Education Leader Race features questions about South Carolina qualifications

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Critical Racial Theory The Associated Press CEO of the Associated Press, who promises to fight the Associated Press and supports giving children public funding for scholarships to private schools, has been elected as the new leader in conservative South Carolina schools. It seems to be very popular in November.

But Ellen Weaver has one serious problem. She does not have a master's degree and has new requirements to become an education supervisor.

Weaver gets her advanced degree in April and she says she will complete it in November before voters finish voting. But what would happen if she didn't, whether the issue could end in court, and because Democrats would win a state-wide office in South Carolina for the first time in 18 years. It is unknown whether to open the door.

After winning her Republican nomination on Tuesday, Weaver didn't seem to be worried about her winning party.

"Tonight we found that voters understand that the real qualifications for this job are leadership and a strong backbone," Weaver told reporters Tuesday night. "But I fully fulfill all my legal obligations to carry out this job. I will get a Master's degree in Educational Leadership in October prior to the general election."

Weaver meets Lisa Ellis, a candidate for the Democratic Party, who is a teacher and founder of the highly-educated Ed's advocacy group SC. Green party candidate Patricia Mikel is also participating in the vote. She is a teacher, but it is unknown if she has a master's degree.

In April, Weaver enrolled in the Master's Program in Educational Leadership at Bob Jones University in Greenville, a conservative Christian school with a bachelor's degree in political science. According to the school website, it usually takes 12-18 months to complete the program.

However, students can set their own pace. The registrar's office confirmed to the Associated Press that Weaver is a current student and she plans to take online classes in the fall.

The requirement for an advanced degree dates back to 2018, when 60% of voters refused to amend the constitution to appoint an education leader to the governor. Congressman also renewed his qualifications for work on the companion bill.

As a result, the supervisor was voted again in 2022. However, this candidate must meet new qualifications, including a master's degree and "broad experience" in public education. Teachers, managers, members of the school board, or "all disciplines" policy-making bodies or operations and financial management.

The new qualification was posted on the South Carolina Election Commission website, but received little attention until the article posted in The Post and Courier the day after the submission to the office was completed. .. Some candidates dropped out while others like Weaver promised to get their advanced degree.

Parties have proved that candidates are eligible for primary elections, and the Republicans have pledged to obtain advanced degrees before the general elections are sufficient.

Beyond the qualification question, Ellis' campaign stated that experience was important. Unlike Weaver, Democrats have spent their time in classrooms and administration, said spokesman Lisa Danzek.

"There are more practical qualifications that many parents and voters want for South Carolina education leaders, regardless of whether Weaver can obtain and complete the required master's degree. Danzek told The Associated Press.

If Weaver earns a master's degree shortly after the November election and before the state-wide officers take office, there are no legal issues regarding her eligibility. , Said Kevin Hall, a lawyer who served as a legal adviser to the Associated Press.

No one has yet sued Weaver for her qualifications, but her degree and experience. Weaver has no experience managing classrooms or schools, and the South Carolina Education Oversight Board, which she oversees, has no policy. She is a former US Senator Jim Demint. After working at the Associated Press, he became president of the Think Tank at the Palmetto Promise Institute.

Regarding concerns about Weaver's experience, Hall has a broad background in the code "any discipline." He said he said it was necessary. With Weaver serving as chairman of the Palmetto Promise Institute, Hall said her experience "tells itself."

The South Carolina Education Supervisor Race highlights national themes such as discussions on COVID-19 classroom policies and conservative protests against the so-called "critical race theory." I am.

Patrick Kelly, director of government affairs at the Palmetto State Teachers Association, said he was disappointed with the "very low turnout" and the nationalization of the primary.

Only 17% of South Carolina voters cast ballots at the Primary on June 14, and both parties chose candidates for supervision. According to data from the State Election Commission, participation rates dropped to 7% in a final vote involving Weaver two weeks later.

"In the discussion of election integrity, there was another threat other than fraudulent elections, and it was too early to dismiss the voter's indifference," Kelly said.

The Governor declared that student mental health was a state crisis, but Kelly said the candidate did not discuss the issue. Meanwhile, he said, the Republican primary contains a lot of debate about critical racial theory. This term is a way of thinking about American history through the lens of racism. It's been the cry of a political rally on the right, but it has proven difficult to find a real example of that teaching in the classroom.

Kelly said that "indoctrination" could be a problem in some parts of the state, but added that "after all, it is not in state standards."

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The Associated Press writer Geoffrey Collins contributed to this report.

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James Pollard is a corps member of the Associated Press / Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a non-profit national service program that places journalists in the local newsroom to report on unreported issues. Follow James Pollard on Twitter.