An Overview of the Center for Educator Recruitment, Retention, and Advancement (CERRA)
The Center for Educator Recruitment, Retention, and Advancement is the oldest and most established teacher recruitment program in the nation. CERRA was established by the Commission on Higher Education in December 1985 and is funded by the South Carolina General Assembly. Following the passage of the state's landmark Education Improvement Act, CERRA was created out of a concern for the condition of South Carolina's teacher supply pool and a need for a centralized teacher recruitment effort.
CERRA's agenda is a comprehensive one in which the Center pursues a variety of programs for increasing the number of students in the education pipeline and recruiting and retaining qualified, caring, and competent teachers. The Center's primary target groups are middle and high school students, college students, and adults interested in changing careers.
CERRA also targets groups of accomplished teachers through programs including mentoring, teacher leadership, and National Board Certification. The network of educators in our programs overlaps in powerful ways to increase the level of collaboration for the recruitment, retention, and advancement of South Carolina educators.
CERRA Annual Reports
Each year CERRA releases an Annual Report that provides an overview of our programs and services, including effectiveness data and budget information. Below are the Annual Reports from the last five years.
Our Programs
CERRA provides a comprehensive suite of programs and services designed to support students and prospective educators from middle school through their professional development as classroom teachers. CERRA’s initiatives are strategically organized into three focus areas: pre-collegiate, collegiate (pre-service), and service. These areas guide individuals through the educator pipeline, offering targeted support at every stage of their journey, from exploring teaching as a career to excelling in the classroom. Many of CERRA’s programs are recognized nationally as innovative models for teacher recruitment and leadership development, reflecting our commitment to shaping a strong, diverse, and sustainable education workforce.
Pre-Collegiate One-Pagers
Collegiate & Service One-Pagers
Mentoring and induction one pager
CERRA Services
The Center for Educator Recruitment, Retention, and Advancement (CERRA) of South Carolina is dedicated to strengthening the state’s education system by supporting the recruitment, development, and retention of high-quality educators. CERRA provides a wide range of services and innovative programs that span from encouraging middle and high school students to consider careers in education to offering professional development and support for practicing teachers. These initiatives align with our mission to address teacher shortages and ensure public schools have highly skilled educators to lead classrooms effectively. By fostering a robust educator pipeline, CERRA helps build a sustainable foundation for educational excellence across South Carolina.