Darlington County
School District
Read to Succeed
Summer Reading Camp
Summer Reading Camp is a key component of the Read to Succeed initiative. School districts are required to identify third-grade students and beginning in the 2025–2026 school year, first-grade students who are not reading at grade level and offer them the opportunity to attend a summer reading program. The Read to Succeed Act mandates that Summer Reading Camp include a minimum of 96 instructional hours. Starting in the 2026–2027 school year, these requirements will also apply to second-grade students.
Grade 3 Retention
This legislation is designed to ensure that all students achieve reading proficiency by the end of third grade. It requires that any third-grade student who scores “Does Not Meet Expectations” on the end-of-year SCREADY ELA assessment be retained. Although the South Carolina Read to Succeed Act includes several exceptions to this requirement, Darlington County School District remains committed to ensuring that every student becomes a proficient reader by the end of third grade.
Third Grade Retention Information
Additional State Department Resources
Required Educator Endorsements