“Thanks to the steadfast work of South Carolina’s legislature, Palmetto State students and their families can expect better literacy instruction starting this year. The budget approved by the legislature today not only bans the harmful three-cueing method from literacy curriculum, but it also commits significant funding to help train K-3 educators in the science of reading.
“Gov. Henry McMaster and Superintendent Ellen Weaver, thank you for spearheading this work to improve early literacy education in South Carolina. Teachers and students will now be equipped with the fundamental tools to ensure our youngest students are learning to read successfully. I also want to thank Senate President Thomas Alexander, Sen. Harvey Peeler, Sen. Nikki Setzler, House Speaker Murrell Smith and Rep. Bruce Bannister for carrying these important budget priorities across the finish line.”
About the South Carolina Budget
The South Carolina budget appropriates $39 million for K-3 teachers to complete literacy training based on the science of reading. Additionally, the budget introduces a statewide ban on three-cueing, a harmful instructional method that teaches students to read by guessing words, rather than sounding them out.
South Carolina joins West Virginia, Indiana and Florida in adopting policies during the 2023 legislative sessions that eliminates three-cueing. The ban will go into effect starting in the 2023-24 school year.
