State Superintendent of Education Ellen Weaver has released the South Carolina Department of Education’s (SCDE) budget priorities for 2023.She presented it during the S.C. House Ways and Means budget hearing Tuesday as part of the agency’s annual budget request.Teacher and bus driver pay, early literacy instruction, and support for the governor’s school safety initiatives were among Superintendent Weaver’s top priorities, according to a news release.“Every year that passes that a South Carolina student cannot read on grade level is a year that they fall further and further behind in their ability to reach their full, God-given potential,” Weaver said.Seventy-four percent of the SCDE’s budget request was comprised of personnel salaries and support for teachers and bus drivers, as well as funds to address rural buildings and the state’s bus fleet, the news release said.According to the release, 16% was for a public school innovation fund that would give additional bonuses to high-performing teachers in high-need districts, increase literacy training and parent engagement, launch mentoring and tutoring programs, and partner with districts to recruit and train school principals. One percent of the request was for SCDE’s state-required salary increases and to initiate critical systems and performance reviews, with no requests for additional full-time state employees, the release said.“We have an opportunity to take actions in 2023 that will have profound impacts for many years to come. I look forward to working with the members of the General Assembly to address the challenges we face to implement bold actions to advance education in South Carolina, because given a proper chance, every child can learn,” Weaver said.The superintendent’s prioritized budget request can be accessed here.