Education

Updated: Governor, education agency seek rehearing on school choice ruling

Update 10/4/2024 On Friday, Oct. 4, the South Carolina Supreme Court denied Gov. Henry McMaster and the South Carolina Department of Education’s petition for a rehearing. In light of this decision, we urge the state legislature to convene a special session to formulate a plan that ensures students affected by...

  • Updated: Governor, education agency seek rehearing on school choice ruling

    Update 10/4/2024 On Friday, Oct. 4, the South Carolina Supreme Court denied Gov. Henry McMaster and the South Carolina Department of Education’s petition for a rehearing. In light of this decision, we urge the state legislature to convene a special session to formulate a plan that ensures students affected by...
  • SCPC ‘deeply disappointed’ with school choice ruling

    MEDIA RELEASE September 11, 2024 The South Carolina Policy Council says it’s “deeply disappointed” with the S.C. Supreme Court’s ruling today that a new state program using public funds for scholarships to allow students to attend private schools was unconstitutional.
  • Carolinas Academic Leadership Network welcomes Bryce Fiedler as founding director

    Carolinas Academic Leadership Network (CALN) proudly announces the appointment of Bryce Fiedler as its first Director. Fiedler, formerly a Senior Policy Analyst with the South Carolina Policy Council, brings a wealth of experience and a deep commitment to educational excellence and parental empowerment.
  • SCPC, partners host school board leader training in Columbia

    Over the weekend, dozens of education leaders – including school board members, candidates and parents – joined the S.C. Policy Council (SCPC) in Columbia for a community event focused on student achievement, effective governance and the positive changes coming to K-12 education. 
  • SCPC, partners win Heritage Innovation Prize for joint education project

    A project led by the S.C. Policy Council and partner think tanks that serves student-focused school board members received a prestigious honor this week. Our initiative – the Carolinas Academic Leadership Network (CALN) – was awarded the Heritage Foundation Innovation Prize on Monday before a packed house of conservative leaders in...
  • Open enrollment bill would increase student opportunity, parental choice

    It is no secret that South Carolina lags behind much of the nation in education. A recent ranking by the U.S. News & World Report put our school system at 42nd in the United States. With the influx of people moving into the Southeast from other states, work must be...
  • EVENT: School Board Candidates and Community⁠⁠ Primer

    *Calling all school board members, candidates, and concerned Carolinians!*  Do you care about the state of education in your school district? Are you concerned for the students who are being brought up in A Nation At Risk? Whether you are a seasoned school board member, a new-to-advocacy community member, or anything...
  • South Carolina looks to ditch DEI in higher ed

    South Carolina is one step closer to banning the discriminatory DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) practices that have undermined many of the nation's institutions of higher learning. 
  • Impact: ESA expansion bill puts us on path to universal school choice

    Update 3/21/24: The House on Wednesday gave the bill second reading by a vote of 69-32. We encourage a swift passage through the Senate so it may become law this year.  On Wednesday, the S.C. House introduced a bill that would significantly expand South Carolina’s Education Scholarship Account (ESA) program, which passed...
  • Universal school choice: a roadmap for South Carolina

    Update 10/27/23: School choice opponents on Thursday launched a legal challenge against South Carolina’s ESA program, seeking to deny students access to life-changing educational scholarships. Legislators crafted the program specifically to comply with the S.C. Constitution, which puts parents in charge of the scholarships, and provides funding entirely to student needs. We encourage a speedy court decision to uphold...