A house RESOLUTION

 

to recognize and honor the pupils, faculty, and Administration of Kershaw Elementary School for being chosen as a Beating the Odds Investigative Study school and to congratulate them for overcoming issues that hinder the possibility of an excellent education in order to become high achieving in academics.

 

Whereas, the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives are delighted to learn that Kershaw Elementary School has been selected as a Beating the Odds Investigative Study school by the South Carolina Education Oversight Committee (EOC); and

 

Whereas, the "Beating the Odds" Investigative Study, often conducted in states like South Carolina, identifies high-poverty schools that achieve excellent academic results despite high student-poverty levels. Researchers use longitudinal data and focus groups to find that these schools succeed through high expectations, strong leadership, and student-first cultures; and

 

Whereas, the investigative study was implemented by the EOC in 2024 with a purpose of examining the practices and characteristics of schools where students are achieving well academically despite having a high percentage of pupils in poverty. Because the EOC is charged with encouraging continuous improvement in South Carolina public schools, this study will help to identify possible characteristics that might assist schools in serving students in poverty; and

 

Whereas, schools that qualify for the study have an enrollment of more than one hundred students; acquire an "Excellent" overall rating with no "Below Average" or "Unsatisfactory" indicator ratings on the South Carolina School Report Card; have a poverty ratio greater than or equal to seventy-five percent based on the average poverty index of elementary schools with an overall rating of "Below Average," the same level of poverty to qualify for federal Title 1 funding; and have open enrollment policies not contingent upon academic achievement or upon evaluation of application or audition; and

 

Whereas, the South Carolina House of Representatives deeply appreciates the dedicated work of educators and school administrators who devote themselves to the education of future generations of South Carolinians who will lead this State as productive citizens. Now, therefore,

 

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:

 

That the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives, by this resolution, recognize and honor the pupils, faculty, and administration of Kershaw Elementary School for being chosen as a Beating the Odds Investigative Study school and congratulate them for overcoming issues that hinder the possibility of an excellent education in order to become high achieving in academics.

 

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to Principal Kelli Overcash.

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