South Carolina’s State Board of Education, on Tuesday, supported changing state law to require school districts to do state criminal background checks on substitute teachers.

A new report by the Southern Regional Education Board says half of South Carolina high schools are “dropout factories” and the state ranks at or near the bottom of the nation when it comes to on-time graduation rates. But state education superintendent Dr. Jim Rex says the numbers are wrong. WJBF News Channel 6’s Robert Kittle has more.

Richmond County School System Public Safety officers scoured a school bus involved in a shooting, Saturday night, on Monday morning looking for any projectiles or further clues into this case. The search turned up empty. WJBF News News Channel 6’s Paige Tucker reports.

According to Louis Svehla, the Public Information Director for the Richmond County School System, a bullet was fired into a bus that was returning from Gwinnett County with All County Chorus students from Cross Creek High School and Murphey Middle School. UPDATE: We have the latest information in the shooting investigation. UPDATE: No bullets or projectiles were found on the bus. The bus’ glass is being replaced, and it will beck in service.

It’s the “F” word no one wants to hear…Furloughs. Some staff and bus drivers are already seeing their furlough days coming from their paycheck, but no decision was every made on when they could take their furlough days, until Monday evening. It was the top discussion at a Richmond County Board of Education meeting. WJBF News Channel 6’s Barclay Bishop has more.

We have shocking video footage of a Richmond County BOE Public Safety Officer. It shows how Officer James Holman handles a recent incident at a high school football game. Officer Holman was fired because of his actions..,and Friday you get to see why. WJBF News Channel 6’s Fraendy Clervaud has more.

Education and golf make for a good team in Blackville, South Carolina. Tueday, we got a peek at a new public course that is owned by Blackville-Hilda Public Schools.

Georgia’s top school official, Superintendent Cathy Cox won a million dollars on TV’s “Are You Smarter than a Fifth Grader’. That money was intended for a worthy charity, but the $1 million is being held up in a nasty court fight…creditors say they should get the money. ABC News’ Steve Osunsami has more.

We have breaking news just into the WJBF News Channel 6 newsroom…We’ve learned that Glascock County Consolidated School will be closed Friday due to a flu bug that’s been going around the school all week.

A spokesman says South Carolina Education Superintendent Jim Rex won’t seek re-election next year. Rex is the only Democrat holding statewide office in South Carolina and has been considering a try for the gubernatorial nomination.

Columbia County students will not be watching President Obama’s “back to school” address next week. The President was planning on making a webcast available to schools, nationwide, next Tuesday. But so far, Columbia County’s Superintendent, Charles Nagle, has yet to receive any official word about it. So, in his words, it’ll be “business as usual.“

It will provide Augusta its drinking water for years to come, but the opening of the new Highland Avenue Water Treatment Plant should also be people pleasing. From the return of Mockingbird Hill, to giant murals by local artists, it should be a treat for the public. WJBF News Channel 6’s George Eskola has the story.

South Carolina is now the first in the nation to have a partnership that allows citizens to donate money directly to specific public schools, even specific classes. State education superintendent Jim Rex, and Trip DuBard, executive director of Palmetto Horizon, announced the partnership Monday at a middle school in Columbia that has already taken advantage of the program. WJBF News Channel 6 SC Capitol reporter, Robert Kittle, has more.

It’s more budget cuts for the Richmond County School System. This time, the Richmond County Board of Education will have to trim close to $900,000. Count on our Fraendy Clervaud for the story.

South Carolina Education Superintendent Jim Rex is exploring a bid for governor and has filed the paperwork needed to raise money for a campaign.