Kelly thinks South Carolina can get there a year early.

“But this also needs to be paired with appropriate increases for teachers in the pay program because, yes, we need to recruit more talent, but we also need to keep the excellent teachers we already have, because they are the ones who have expertise. that can help our students reach their potential,” he said.

It’s not just pay that drives teachers out of the classroom. Reforms in teaching contracts and improving working conditions are also among the priorities to address the deficit.

They say teachers want more planning time, smaller classes and a permanent certification process to cut red tape.

Kelly said that also includes strengthening school safety.

“If schools are not safe, this not only disrupts student learning, but also creates working conditions that will not retain educators in the long term.”

State Superintendent of Education Ellen Weaver says that in addition to the raise money, she plans to ask the General Assembly for more funding next year for a strategic compensation pilot program.

“We need to create an environment where teachers want to teach,” she said.

The SC Department of Education received the first round of funding for their compensation program this year and is in the process of rolling it out right now.

“To really elevate and celebrate the difference that great teachers make in classrooms across this state every day,” Weaver said.

Last year, at the start of the school year, there were around 1,600 unfilled teaching jobs nationwide.

The report detailing the number of vacancies for this school year has not yet been released, but is usually released around this time of year.

Lawmakers will return to the State House in January and begin hearing budget requests shortly thereafter.