For nearly 40 years School Improvement Councils have been, by South Carolina law, directly involved in the school improvement planning process and helping to carry out and evaluate the outcomes of such plans. SICs must also report to the school’s parents and the community how the school is progressing toward its improvement goals. An effective SIC works closely with school staff (and indeed all stakeholders) to provide real-world solutions so that students are better prepared to come to school, are challenged and supported while in school, and leave school better equipped for the next phase of their education.