Mission of the Project

Initially funded in 2003-2004 by the South Carolina Department of Education's Office of Exceptional Children, with additional funding provided by the Division of Educator Quality and Leadership, the chief mission of CREATE is to grow a highly qualified special education teacher force in the State's public schools. Through a partnership with 11 leading colleges and universities in South Carolina, all with NCATE/State-approved teacher preparation programs in special education, the project underwrites course tuition and textbooks costs for qualified individuals to obtain add-on, alternative, or initial certification in special education.

News for 2008-2009

• CREATE begins Year 6 operation.
• All full-time public school employees (instructional and non-instructional staff) are eligible for CREATE; applicants must meet qualification requirements.
• The three required courses for PACE-Emotional Disabilities participants are now available in distance/online format, and can be completed in consecutive semesters.
• A distance/online Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) degree in Emotional Disabilities with built-in certification is being developed by USC-Columbia; applicants State-wide beyond a one hour drive from Columbia are eligible; first cohort of 25 participants will be selected by March 1, 2009. Click for Application instructions.

Success from 2003-2008

• Course scholarships awarded: 1,596
• Participants enrolled: 671
• Participants completing certification: 371
• School districts represented: 80 (of 85)