Cleveland Academy of Leadership, Beating the Odds Investigative Study school

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Terry Alexander and 119 co-sponsors

Cleveland Academy of Leadership is formally recognized as part of the Beating the Odds Investigative Study for excelling academically in a high-poverty context.

Introduced and adopted

Summary of Bill H 5711 (Session 2025-2026, South Carolina)

Purpose and intent

The bill is a House Resolution recognizing and honoring the Cleveland Academy of Leadership in Spartanburg County.

It acknowledges the school's selection as a Beating the Odds Investigative Study school by the South Carolina Education Oversight Committee (EOC).

The resolution commends the school for achieving high academic performance despite a high-poverty context and for addressing barriers to excellent education.

What is “Beating the Odds” Investigative Study?

An EOC program initiated in 2024 to study practices and characteristics of schools where students perform well academically despite high poverty levels.

The study aims to identify characteristics and practices that may help schools serving students in poverty improve outcomes.

Criteria for Beating the Odds designation (as described in the resolution):

Enrollment of more than 100 students.
Overall school rating of “Excellent” with no “Below Average” or “Unsatisfactory” indicators on the SC School Report Card.
Poverty ratio of 75% or higher (based on the average poverty index of elementary schools with an overall rating of “Below Average”; aligns with the level of poverty qualifying for federal Title I funding).
Open enrollment policies (not contingent on academic achievement, application evaluation, or auditions).

Provisions and changes proposed by the bill

The primary text is a formal recognition by the South Carolina House of Representatives of Cleveland Academy of Leadership’s inclusion in the Beating the Odds Investigative Study.

The resolution states appreciation for educators and administrators and expresses the intention to share the school’s continued accomplishments.

A specific courtesy is included: a copy of the resolution will be presented to the school’s principal, Dr. Marquice Clarke.

Who or what is affected

Cleveland Academy of Leadership (Spartanburg County) is formally recognized and congratulated.

The action is ceremonial and symbolic, directed at acknowledging the school’s achievement and status within the Beating the Odds framework.

No direct changes to funding, governance, or statutory requirements are enacted by this resolution itself.

Procedural and timeline aspects

Action history note: The resolution was introduced and adopted on June 25, 2026.

Sponsored and co-sponsored by a broad list of representatives, indicating wide cross-chamber support.

The document is a House Resolution, meaning it is a statement of appreciation and recognition from the South Carolina House of Representatives, not a bill that would impose or authorize new duties or funding.

Key takeaways

The bill formally recognizes Cleveland Academy of Leadership for being named a Beating the Odds Investigative Study school by the SC EOC.

It highlights the school’s success in delivering high-quality education in a high-poverty context and underscores the EOC’s ongoing efforts to identify effective practices for schools facing poverty-related challenges.

There are no substantive policy changes, funding allocations, or mandated actions required of the state or school systems by this resolution beyond recognition and the ceremonial presentation of a copy to the principal.