(WPDE) — Editor’s note: This is the first story in a multi-part series about how educators are working to solve the achievement gap in our local school districts. See more at the Bridging the Gap section of our website.

This past spring, ABC 15 Investigates visited every single school district in the Grand Strand and Pee Dee, in an attempt to identify ways to close the gap in test scores between black students and white students.

In some districts, the average black student’s test score was less than half of their white peer’s.

Our team heard ideas for solutions, from emphasizing the arts program in Johnsonville to using peer pressure to bring everyone up in Lake City.

There were also nearly universal ideas, a sort of “wish list,” from administrators straining against the limits of a public school district budget.

Requests for mental health counselors abounded, strengthened by one district’s bet that turning to a private partnership would pay off.

A desire for universal preschool topped nearly everyone’s list, with officials saying they needed to reach underprivileged children before kindergarten.

Others wanted to eliminate Act 388, which restricts school districts from raising property taxes on homes.

Last school year, Dillon 4’s superintendent said he spent 90% of his budget on salaries, with little room to try new programs.

Just about everyone wanted to raise their teachers’ pay.

ABC 15 Investigates took those concerns to Columbia and talked with leaders there about the department’s view.

Many of the wish list items were identical.

“I don’t think we could say there’s just one thing,” spokesman Ryan Brown said. “One thing that’s strictly money that needs to happen is paying teachers more.”

Brown said the department was interested in expanding preschool and Montessori access, but cost was a major factor.

He went further on the issue of consolidation, predicting many small districts would be forced to make that decision as resources in rural areas continued to dwindle.

He split with district leaders on where the money for new ideas could come from.

“I think that there is enough money in many areas of the state,” he said. “I don’t know that it’s being spent wisely in every area of the state.”

After summer break, little progress has been made in any of these areas.

Political leaders are still negotiating their education overhaul bill, which has a chance of passing in early 2020. It will address a few of the issues, mainly teacher pay.

There appears to be little appetite for tackling additional education-related issues until after it’s passed.

Until then, districts will have to continue the routine many of them have gotten used to.

“Utilize what you have as you continue to try to secure more,” Marion County’s Kandace Bethea said.