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.

What can constitutional law teach students about respectful disagreement? High School Law Review explores that question through Supreme Court case analysis, structured oral presentation, and legal writing. In this workshop, we'll look at how HSLR fits into existing Government courses and how students are rewarded for publishing legal analysis in school-based, state-wide, and national law reviews. For South Carolina students, standout legal notes earn an invitation to our inaugural South Carolina Law Review competition. This in-person event where students defend their work before a live audience and recognizes them alongside the teachers who supported them. Together, we'll explore how studying the law sharpens critical thinking, builds civic literacy, and models the rigorous, humble disagreement our students need most.

Leadership Minute is, the progress made across South Carolina, and how the program supports life skills, confidence, resilience, and civic responsibility without adding instructional burden. Participants will experience a Leadership Minute live, featuring one of the program’s civics standards—Patriotism—led by a Leadership Minute Ambassador. The session highlights the program’s innovative storytelling model, which blends animated elementary characters with real-life South Carolina athletes, coaches, and football leaders to make abstract character concepts relatable and impactful. Designed with both students and educators in mind, each one-minute video is paired with optional, easy-to-use curriculum cards that promote reflection, discussion, and real-world application while requiring minimal preparation. Attendees will explore how this dual-impact model increases classroom capacity for character instruction while keeping student growth at the center. The session also showcases how families, communities, and businesses can collaborate to extend character education beyond the classroom, creating a shared, statewide approach to developing strong, civically engaged citizens. Ideal for educators, district leaders, businesses, and community partners, this session offers an uncommon opportunity to experience the Leadership Minute while learning how intentional, daily character moments can create lasting impact. One minute at a time.

Looking for engaging civics resources that go beyond the textbook?  This session highlights the South Carolina Bar's Law Related Education programs that provide teachers with free curriculum materials, competitions, and experiential learning opportunities to students.  From Mock Trial, to We the People congressional hearings, to helping you schedule field excursions to your local courthouses, to pairing you with local attorneys to be guest speakers, the Law Related Education Division of the SC Bar is here to help!  These programs help students explore the law, develop civic knowledge, and practice the skills needed for active citizenship- all following the SC Social Studies College and Career Readiness Standards.   Participants will learn how to easily integrate these opportunities into their classrooms and schools in this interactive high energy session.