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Explore Our Online Offerings

• Fall - EDPD 828 L60 - Foundations in Reading

  Purpose of the course and expected participation outcomes: 
  This newly approved SCDOE professional development course is aligned with updated competencies. The Foundations of Reading course explores major theories of reading and writing instruction that systematically and explicitly support teacher understanding of the developmental nature of language and its connection to growing literacy proficiency, specifically the ability to make meaning from text. Teachers will study, develop, share, and learn effective theoretical constructs to meet students’ needs. This professional development course will empower educators to revise and develop lesson plans that connect theory, practices, and student achievement.

  Course Description: 
  This course is a study of the connectivity between language development and literacy proficiency in the learning environment. Content includes stages of development scaffolded on a weekly basis and compiled to create a formal presentation for an intended audience: parents, peers, or administrators. Major theorists and current reading models provide support for planning instruction that is appropriate to meet ongoing literacy proficiency through elementary school.

  Week 1: Orientation, Language Development Birth to 2

  Week 2: Major Reading Theorists; Preschool Literacy Ages 3-4

  Week 3: Models of Reading: Early Childhood Literacy Age 4 – Grade 2

  Week 4: Connecting Language Development to The Reading Process; Content Area Literacy Grades 3-5

  Week 5: Creating a Literate Environment; Elementary Grades

  Week 6: Beyond the Foundations: Achieving literacy proficiency to meet the expectations of middle and high school readers and writers.       

  Credit hours:  3 graduate PD credits

  Cost: $300

  Dates:  September 13 - October 30, 2025

  Grading: According to the ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø Graduate Catalog, a Pass/Fail course carries zero (0) quality points and thus cannot be converted to a letter grade. 

   

  • Pay Course Fee:
    Tuition is $300, payable by credit card at:
    

  • Withdrawal & Refund Policy:
     (Update this with the actual URL if needed)

• Fall - EDPD 828 P60 - Content Area Reading and Writing

   Purpose of Course and expected outcomes

  Developing strategic readers, proficient writers, and critical and creative thinkers requires many opportunities to read, write, and think. This newly approved SCDET professional development course is aligned with updated competencies and is designed to empower educators to make complex instructional decisions when using a comprehensive, content-integrated curriculum designed to lead students to reading comprehension, vocabulary development, text analysis, and fluency in all content areas. This course will closely examine the nature and significance of literacy learning and the critical aspects of literacy development.

  Course Description

  This course is a hands-on course that requires teachers to incorporate content area literacy strategies and disciplinary literacy practices across subject areas. Participants will inventory and analyze their text materials as a precursor to building a classroom that includes informational texts and non-informational texts for digital and print reading.  Lesson plans that include CAL and DL will be submitted in each content area to demonstrate text materials used purposely across the curriculum. These text materials will be finalized into a wish list for appropriate avenues for granting classroom resources.

  Credit hours:  3 graduate PD credits

  Cost: $300

  Dates:  September 27-November 17

  Grading: According to the ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø Graduate Catalog, a Pass/Fail course carries zero (0) quality points and thus cannot be converted to a letter grade. 

  Week 1 Orientation and The Reading and Writing Processes

  Week 2 Science of Reading and Components of Literacy

  Week 3 Strategic Reading and Writing

  Week 4 Content Area Literacy

  Week 5 Disciplinary Literacy

  Week 6 Demonstrating Literacy Proficiency at each grade level

  • Pay Course Fee:
    Tuition is $300, payable by credit card at:
    

  • Withdrawal & Refund Policy:
     (Update this with the actual URL if needed)

   

   

• Fall: EDPD 828 Q60 - The Charter School Movement in SC

  Course Overview: EDPD 828 Q

  The Charter School Movement in South Carolina: Past, Present, and Future

  This self-paced online course is designed for K–12 teachers (in all certification areas), administrators, school board members, and others interested in understanding the charter school movement in South Carolina.

  Participants will gain an in-depth understanding of:

  • The national charter school movement

  • The evolution of charter schools in South Carolina

  • The South Carolina Charter School Act

  • Charter school sponsors and funding

  • The application process

  • Teacher rights and benefits

  • Charter management companies

  • Comparisons between charter and traditional public schools

  • Athletics and extracurricular participation

  • Virtual charter schools

  • The future of charter schools in South Carolina

  By the end of the course, participants will be well-informed about the structure, challenges, advantages, and disadvantages of charter schools in the state.

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  Course Format & Schedule

  • Start Date: Saturday, September 7

  • End Date: Saturday, October 19

  • Format: Online, self-paced

  • Structure: Nine sessions over six weeks

  Beginning on September 7, participants will receive weekly assignments by email. Each session includes:

  • A written lecture

  • Curated readings and websites

  • Assigned textbook pages

  • An application-based assignment

  After completing each session, participants submit their assignment via email. The instructor will review, provide feedback, and assign a grade. Once submitted, the next session will be sent. This process continues until all nine sessions are completed.

  • Final Assignment Due: October 19

  For a detailed syllabus, email fbouknight65@gmail.com.

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  Registration Information

  Course Code: EDPD 828 Q – The Charter School Movement in South Carolina: Past, Present, and Future
  Credit: 3 graduate professional development credits
  Tuition: $350 (through the ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø)

  To register:

  1. Complete the online registration form:

  2. Email a copy of your driver’s license and teaching certificate to: opde@cofc.edu

     • Use “EDPD 828 Q” in the subject line

  3. Pay the $350 fee online:

  4. Registration Deadline: Wednesday, September 3

  Click here to view the ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø’s withdrawal and refund policies. (Update this with the correct URL if needed.)

• Fall: EDPD 826 Z60 - Managing the Post-Pandemic Classroom

  Course Overview: Managing the Post-Pandemic Classroom

  This course is designed to equip teachers and administrators with a comprehensive understanding of the ongoing impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on both students and educators. The academic, social, and behavioral support students need today differs significantly from pre-pandemic practices. Likewise, teachers must adopt new approaches and perspectives to navigate the evolving post-pandemic classroom.

  Participants will explore the effects of trauma and stress related to the pandemic and examine evidence-based programs and frameworks that support student behavior, instructional effectiveness, and teacher well-being. Key topics include behavior identification and management, trauma-informed instructional strategies, and the implementation of supportive systems to foster success for both students and teachers.

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  Course Format & Schedule

  • Start Date: Sunday, October 19

  • End Date: Saturday, November 30

  • Format: Online, self-paced

  • Duration: Nine sessions over six weeks

  Each Sunday, participants will receive a detailed session packet via email, which includes:

  • A written lecture on the session topic

  • Curated website readings and multimedia content

  • Assigned textbook pages

  • An application-based assignment

  After completing each session, participants will submit their assignments via email. The instructor will review submissions, provide feedback, and assign a grade. Upon completion, the next session will be released. This process continues until all nine sessions are completed.

  • Final Deadline for Assignments: November 30

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  Registration Instructions

  • Deadline to Register: Wednesday, October 15

  • Register Online:

  • Submit Required Documents:
    Email a copy of your driver’s license and teaching certificate to OPDE at: opde@cofc.edu
    (Use subject line: “EDPD: 826 Z60”)

  • Pay Course Fee:
    Tuition is $350, payable by credit card at:
    

  • Withdrawal & Refund Policy:
    (Update this with the actual URL if needed)

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  Request a Syllabus
  For a detailed syllabus, please email: fbouknight65@gmail.com