Preliminary Guidelines for Renewal Credit Providers
The following preliminary guidelines apply to institutions, organizations, and agencies that wish to sponsor activities for South Carolina Renewal Credit Plan under any of the certificate renewal options outlined on the renewal credit matrix.
Prior to the Renewal Credit Activity
The activity sponsor/renewal credit provider should advise prospective participants of the following renewal credit guidelines, as specified in the South Carolina Department of Education Renewal Credit Plan:
- Renewal credits must be related to the educator's professional growth plan and/or support the goals of the employing educational entity, and, therefore, are subject to the approval of the educational district or entity. A pre-approval form for this professional activity may be required.
- An educator may earn renewal credits only through activities for which all eligibility criteria have been met.
- The educator is responsible for maintaining all required renewal credit verification and documentation.
- The educator will be responsible for turning in the verification to the appropriate district/entity renewal credit plan coordinator for processing.
The pre-approval policy will be determined by the educator's district. In order to assist educators, if prior approval is necessary for the option, the activity sponsor/renewal credit provider should make the following information available to prospective participants:
- the title of the activity
- the name of the sponsor/renewal credit provider, including applicable contact information
- the date(s) and time(s) of the activity
- the location of the activity
- the objectives of the activity
- the intended audience or participants
- the number of contact hours (excluding all meals and breaks)
This information may be in the form of a brochure, conference program, agenda, etc.
Following the Renewal Credit Activity
Within four weeks following the conclusion of the renewal activity, the activity sponsor/renewal credit provider should provide a written "Certificate of Completion" to each participant who successfully completed the activity. This certificate should include the following information:
- the title of the activity
- the name of the sponsor/renewal credit provider, including applicable contact information
- the date(s) and time(s) of the activity
- the location of the activity
- the objectives of the activity
- the intended audience or participants
- the number of actual contact hours (excluding all meals and breaks) accrued by the participant
- the name of the participant
- the signature, title, and contact information of the renewal credit provider's designated official
In addition to providing a "Certificate of Completion" to each eligible participant, it is recommended that the activity sponsor/renewal credit provider maintain a record of the participants who successfully complete each activity.
The educator will be responsible for submitting the "Certificate of Completion" to his or her District Renewal Plan Coordinator or designee in order to process the renewal credit. The district determines the qualifying renewal credit option for their educators. The district will submit the renewal credit to the Division of Educator Quality & Leadership certification portal system.
Related Links
- Renewal Credit Matrix (5 page pdf)
- District Coordinators (3 page pdf)