Project CREATE is a program offered through South Carolina’s State Department of Education.  Their mission 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.”  Qualified individuals in the past have included regular education teachers, classroom aides, and paraprofessionals who meet certain criteria.

The state’s Project CREATE website is located here.  Interested individuals should begin at the site and can click on “How to Qualify” at the left side of the screen to answer a series of questions and determine if they’re eligible.

Courses to satisfy Project CREATE requirements are available through state universities, and the contact at CCU for the program is Dr. Dodi Hodges (Tel. 843.349.2321; jhodges@coastal.edu).

Memorandum regarding CREATE - August 2010