The Palmetto Education Summit 2026

This professional development session introduces educators to the Palmetto Civics Project, a South Carolina Department of Education initiative designed to strengthen civic literacy, character development, and student engagement through meaningful, real-world connections. Participants will explore key resources such as the Palmetto Pioneers, which highlight influential South Carolinians and the civic virtues they embody and examine how these tools can be used to bring civics to life across grade levels and content areas.

Discover how the Medal of Honor Character Development Program brings democratic principles to life through powerful, real-world stories. This interactive session showcases free lessons that build civic engagement, ethical decision-making, and student voice. Participants will explore primary sources, short video scenarios, and discussion strategies that help students connect acts of courage and service to their own roles as citizens. Leave with ready-to-use resources that inspire character, empathy, and community-minded action.

South Carolina is entering an exciting new era in school counseling and career guidance—and this session gives leaders the tools, clarity, and confidence to put the state’s revised Comprehensive School Counseling and Career Guidance Framework into action. Participants will explore the Framework’s four core components—Define, Deliver, Manage, and Assess—and discover how these elements work together to create coherent, aligned, and student‑centered programs across K–12 settings. The session will also unpack the Framework’s three developmental domains—Learning to Learn, Learning to Live, and Learning to Work—illustrating how they strengthen academic, personal–social, and career readiness through intentional skill‑building opportunities. Participants will gain essential updates on South Carolina‑specific legal requirements, including the EEDA, SC Code §59‑59‑120, the state’s 300:1 student–counselor ratio guideline, and scope‑of‑practice expectations that shape daily implementation statewide. Through interactive problem‑solving, real school scenarios, and collaborative discussions, attendees will practice applying the Framework in authentic contexts. Participants will leave with clear, actionable strategies they can implement immediately—strengthening program alignment, improving school‑wide systems, and ensuring every student receives high‑quality, developmentally appropriate counseling and career guidance.