CERRA, RISE SC Partner to Promote Voter Registration
ROCK HILL - South Carolina educators the time has come to be counted, and a collaborative effort led by RISE SC is encouraging educators to register to vote and become involved in the political process.
As part of its advocacy efforts, the Center for Educator Recruitment, Retention, and Advancement (CERRA), as well as other organizations who promote public education in South Carolina, has partnered with RISE SC in this effort.
According to a release from RISE SC, it is estimated that as many as 1/3 of South Carolina’s public school teachers are not registered to vote. The collaborative group intends to change that through its “Goal: 100%!” voter registration drive and incentive program. The program is focused on promoting voter registration and participation among educators.
“CERRA is excited to partner in this effort encouraging (or replace with “to encourage”) educators to not only become registered voters but also to become engaged in the political process by going to the polls on November 4th and casting a ballot,” said Gayle Sawyer, CERRA executive director. “The state allows teachers to have the day off to vote and we should exercise our right to have a voice in the outcome of this election. Besides, we should model good citizenship for our students.”
Schools who participate in the program and have 100 percent of their certified staff registered to vote in the 2008 general election will be entered into a drawing for a $1,000 prize. Ten schools will be selected to receive the cash incentive.
CERRA is joined by the following organizations in supporting this vital initiative:
* Jim Rex, State Superintendent of Education
* South Carolina School Improvement Council (SC-SIC)
* The South Carolina Education Association (The SCEA)
* Palmetto State Teachers Association (PSTA)
* South Carolina Association of School Administrators (SCASA)
* South Carolina School Boards Association (SCSBA)
* South Carolina Parent Teachers' Association (SCPTA)
* USC School - University Partnership Network
* The League of Women voters of South Carolina (LWVSC)
* Time Warner Cable
To register your school for “Goal: 100%!” or for more information, including official rules, please visit www.risesc.org. RISE SC is a nonprofit organization not affiliated with any candidate or political party.
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CERRA, an independent state agency located on the campus of Winthrop University, is the oldest and most established teacher recruitment program in the country. The purpose of CERRA is to provide leadership in identifying, attracting, placing and retaining well-qualified individuals for the teaching profession in South Carolina. CERRA’s programs have been adopted at school, district and state levels in more than 30 states in the United States.