The Institute is thrilled to announce the 2026-2027 Nathan Yon Teachers of the Year: Ms. Jennifer Catoe from Gray Collegiate Academy & Ms. Dena Mixon from South Carolina Connections Academy! As ambassadors for school choice, these two represent the thousands of amazing teachers in the Institute’s statewide portfolio. Through their upcoming year of service, they will champion innovation, collaboration, and a brighter future for children across South Carolina. Please join us in celebrating their achievement! #InstituteAB8 #MoveTheNeedle

Dr. Brian Newsome and the team at Gray Collegiate Academy were recognized by South Carolina Superintendent of Education Ellen Weaver during the SC Report Card release! Congratulations to the GCA faculty and students for earning an “Excellent” overall rating across all grade levels served this year. This milestone builds on an incredible track record of academic consistency, with the high school earning an “Excellent” rating for six consecutive years and the middle school maintaining an “Excellent” rating for four consecutive years!

Congratulations to the Institute schools that demonstrated excellent growth scores on this year’s South Carolina Report Card! Excellent growth proves our schools are accelerating learning, closing gaps, and helping every child #MoveTheNeedle toward a bright future. Thank you to our school communities for setting the standard across our state!

Another day of National Principals Month means another opportunity to honor South Carolina’s incredible school leaders! Today, we are spotlighting Amber Speights, Principal at Libertas Academy Colleton in Walterboro. As a pioneer leading Colleton County's very first public charter school, Principal Speights is breaking new ground and paving the way for expanded educational opportunities in her community. Press play on the video below to hear from Principal Speights and follow her path to Libertas Academy Colleton!

The Institute pipeline charter school planning committees presented their Year Zero updates and data to the Cabinet and Authorization team. Checkpoints like these provide a road map to a successful school opening. Thank you to our planning committees for their hard work in Year Zero to #MoveTheNeedle for children in South Carolina!

For this #ThankYouTuesday, we are celebrating Royal Live Oaks Academy of the Arts and Sciences Charter School (RLOACS), a beacon of opportunity in Hardeeville. Located in South Carolina's Corridor of Shame, a rural region marked by historically underfunded public schools, RLOACS faced steep challenges from the very start. What began in humble portable classrooms has grown into its own state-of-the-art facility, proving that true excellence is built on vision, innovation, and relentless grit. This success story was no accident. It took a deep commitment to the mission from Founders Dr. Karen Wicks and Mr. Les Wicks, alongside Academy Director Mr. Brian Morse and their devoted team, who poured sacrifice, creative passion, and dedication into the Jasper County community. Together, their leadership shifted the local educational landscape, lifting RLOACS to the #1 school in Jasper County with excellent ratings spanning every grade level across the K-12 spectrum. Today, the elementary program sits in South Carolina's top 1% for student growth, while the middle school stands tall as a recognized National Forum School to Watch. Thank you to the leaders, educators, and staff at RLOACS for dreaming big, breaking barriers, and turning potential into powerful success for every student who walks through your doors. #RiseAboveTheOdds

We are halfway through National Principals Month, and we are continuing to recognize school leadership across South Carolina with our principal profile series. Today, we are celebrating Mr. Jarred Strait, Upper School Director at American Leadership Academy Blythewood. As an American veteran, Director Strait brings a strong foundation of service, discipline, and high expectations to his campus, empowering every student to achieve their best. Watch the video below to learn more about Director Strait and his journey to American Leadership Academy Blythewood!

Congratulations to the Institute schools whose report card ratings went up a full level this year! These gains bring our schools even closer to our focus on strong results for every child. Progress like this is how we #MoveTheNeedle, one step at a time.

Investing in our children and providing a platform for their voices is what the Charter School Ambassador program is all about. We welcomed our newest Ambassadors to the program, who joined their peers in sharpening their public speaking skills with valuable insight from Commissioner Stephen Gilchrist, SCDE General Counsel Mr. Todd Atwater, and Institute staff members Dr. Missy Brakefield and Ms. Tiffany Palmer. Students also planned service projects and events for the year ahead. We can’t wait to see these young leaders put their new skills and lessons into action as they advocate for school choice across South Carolina! #MoveTheNeedle

Strong schools start with strong boards. From no-cost retreats and onsite training to a dedicated Board Liaison for every school, the Institute is honored to support the board members who help our schools thrive. Thank you for all you do to #MoveTheNeedle for South Carolina!

Jumping TWO rating levels takes real work and dedication to excellence. Join us in celebrating these amazing schools whose report card ratings went up two entire levels in just one year! Progress like this is how we #MoveTheNeedle, one step at a time. Congratulations to Midlands STEM Charter School, Lowcountry Connections Academy, Royal Live Oaks academy of the Arts and Sciences Charter School, Lowcountry Leadership Charter School, Carolina Classical Academy, American Leadership Academy Lexington, and Virtus Academy of South Carolina!

South Carolina @SenRossTurner recently visited Langston Charter Middle School in Greenville. Joined by Superintendent Cameron Runyan, Senator Turner connected directly with students, faculty, and leadership at the National Blue Ribbon School to learn about its success. The visit highlighted how school choice and the power to choose their educational path play a direct, positive role in the lives of local children and families. Thank you to Senator Turner for taking the time to engage with our school community, and thank you to Langson's students, staff, and leadership who continue to #MoveTheNeedle for education in South Carolina.

Meet Samantha Wood, founding principal of Libertas Academy Woodruff, the city’s first-ever public charter school! Principal Wood brings 15 years in education to her first principalship, including 12 years as an elementary teacher and time spent coaching cheer and softball. Her leadership centers on preparing students to be good citizens, a perfect match for Libertas, where Core Knowledge, Eureka Math, and Core Virtues build strong academic skills and strong character. Ms. Wood, thank you for all you do to #MoveTheNeedle!

Congratulations to the Institute schools that earned a Good rating, the second highest possible, on their elementary, middle, or high school report cards this year! This achievement reflects the hard work of dedicated leaders, educators, and children committed to creating excellence in the school choice space and in the state. Together, they #MoveTheNeedle for student success.

Congratulations to @CyberAcademySC for becoming the FIRST virtual school in South Carolina to earn an Excellent rating on the state report card! This accomplishment belongs to the hard-working students, dedicated teachers, staff, and supportive families who made this historical milestone possible and continue to #MoveTheNeedle for online education across the state.

This year, the number of Institute schools earning an Excellent rating on their elementary, middle, or high school report cards more than doubled, jumping from 9 to 19! Congratulations to all of the schools, leaders, educators, and children whose hard work made this outstanding growth possible. This achievement proves that personalized, student-centered, and value-rich learning can happen anywhere when dedicated communities pull together to #MoveTheNeedle for student success.

We are continuing to recognize school leadership across South Carolina with our principal profile series, and today we are celebrating David Wooten, Principal at Langston Charter Middle School in Greenville. Through his commitment to academic excellence, Principal Wooten helps move the needle and empower every student he serves at this National Blue Ribbon School. Watch the video below to learn more about Principal Wooten and his journey to Langston Charter Middle School!

Today for #ThankYouTuesday, we are grateful to South Carolina Superintendent of Education Ellen Weaver, who continues to show our state what promises made and promises kept looks like. Under her leadership, her achievements reflect a clear vision and a genuine dedication to academic excellence in every corner of South Carolina: - She expanded school ratings, with a record 320 schools earning an Excellent rating and strong gains in high-poverty schools. - She advanced civics and character education to prepare students for life beyond the classroom. - She trained 20,000+ educators in the Science of Reading and launched the Palmetto Math Project. - She raised starting teacher pay and secured paid parental leave to attract and retain the educators our children deserve. - She invested over $85 million in school safety and introduced the Free to Focus policy to remove cell phones from classrooms. We are grateful for Superintendent Weaver’s partnership and for her advocacy for South Carolina’s children, families, and educators. Thank you for leading with integrity and for keeping your word. #MoveTheNeedle

The latest SC Report Card data has been released, reflecting the incredible hard work of our students, educators, and families. Take a look at these highlights and stay tuned this week as we continue the celebrations! * 20 schools boosted their overall Report Card rating from last year * 19 schools achieved an Excellent rating * 100% Graduation Rate at three Institute high schools * A special shoutout to Belton Preparatory Academy, Gray Collegiate Academy, and Royal Live Oaks Academy for earning an Excellent report card rating across multiple grade bands served! To our school leaders, teachers, students, and families: thank you for setting a high bar and continuously pushing for growth. Together, we are moving the needle on human flourishing for nearly 40,000 children and shaping the future of South Carolina!

This week, Superintendent Runyan and other Institute team members joined colleagues from the South Carolina Department of Education to provide ongoing feedback as charter organizations across the state work to implement Act 123. Thank you to SCDE for their continued collaboration as we work to strengthen the charter school sector! @EducationSC

Next up in our National Principals Month series, we are highlighting Dr. Dennis Dotterer, Lower School Director at American Leadership Academy in Blythewood! Dr. Dotterer brings a deep passion for early-childhood leadership, instilling core character values and a love for learning in young Guardians right from day one. His energizing presence and focus on family-school partnerships help make ALA Blythewood a place where students feel truly known, supported, and inspired to reach their full potential. Watch the video below to discover Dr. Dotterer’s vision for primary education and hear how his dedication is shaping the future of the ALA Blythewood community!