Advisory Council for Educating Students with Disabilities
About the Council
The South Carolina Advisory Council for Educating Students with Disabilities (ACESD) advises the South Carolina Department of Education (SCDE) of unmet educational needs of children served under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Specifically, the Advisory Council comments on:
- Proposed regulatory changes
- Data and reports
- Policies involving service coordination
- Corrective actions defined by the federal monitoring process
Vision
The ACESD envisions a world where all students are respected and challenged, where the needs of all students are met, and where the aspirations for success of all students are fulfilled.
Mission
The Advisory Council's mission is to make recommendations and influence decisions made on behalf of students with disabilities to enhance the quality of educational services they receive and to improve their outcomes.
Contacts
Cheryl Fitts , SC Advisory Council Liaison
Email: cfitts@ed.sc.gov
Dr. Susan Beck, Advisory Council Chair
Email: susanbeckacesd@gmail.com
Members & Committees
Members
The members of the Council represent the needs of the larger voices of the community; spanning from the upstate, midlands and low country. All members are committed individuals who have a stake in the education of children with disabilities. Council members are family members and persons with disabilities, educators, advocates, departmental representatives, university professors and community members. A majority of members are individuals with disabilities and parents and grandparents of children with disabilities.
If you would like to be considered for membership on ACESD, please fill in our ACESD Member Application
Membership
The South Carolina Superintendent of Education appoints members for three-year terms. The membership is comprised of individuals involved in, or concerned with the education of children with disabilities. The majority of members must be persons with disabilities or parents/guardians of children with disabilities. Once appointed, the Advisory Council member is required to attend no less than three meetings held yearly.
Committees
The purpose of the ACESD committees is to delve deeper into specific concerns that the community may have related to the implementation of education for students with disabilities.
Meetings
The Advisory Council meets no less than four times a year. The ACESD meetings are open to the public and conducted in-person or in a virtual format. The information to join the meetings virtually is below:
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 998 6212 2864
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Agenda & Minutes
All ACESD Agenda and Minutes are made available to public. For information about specific meetings dates please see our Agenda and Minutes webpage.
| Meeting | Date | Time | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full Council | August 22, 2025 | 10:00 am – 2:00 pm | Virtual Zoom Meeting |
| Full Council | October 24, 2025 | 10:00 am – 4:15 pm | SC Vocational Rehabilitation Human Resource Development Center, 1410 Boston Avenue, Columbia, SC 29170. |
| Full Council | January 23, 2026 | 10:00 am – 2:00 pm | Virtual Zoom Meeting |
| Full Council | March 27, 2026 | 10:00 am – 2:00 pm | Virtual Zoom Meeting |
Public Comment
The Advisory Panel welcomes public comment regarding the education of children with disabilities. An opportunity for public comment is included on the agenda for each meeting. Individuals may also write or e-mail the Advisory Council. Comments should not include personally identifiable information regarding a child or parties. While the Advisory Council will not respond to individual concerns, the council members will include public comments in determining unmet needs and making recommendations for systemic change to improve outcomes for children with disabilities.