Education

Legislative victory: Senate and House reach agreement on school choice bill

Update: Adjustments were made to this summary to reflect developments that occurred during the week. 5/1/2025: On Thursday, the House concurred with the Senate’s amendments and sent the bill to the governor’s desk. On Wednesday, the Senate announced that after continued negotiations between the House and Senate Education committees, they...

Sam Aaron

Written by
April 17, 2025

  • Legislative victory: Senate and House reach agreement on school choice bill

    Update: Adjustments were made to this summary to reflect developments that occurred during the week. 5/1/2025: On Thursday, the House concurred with the Senate’s amendments and sent the bill to the governor’s desk. On Wednesday, the Senate announced that after continued negotiations between the House and Senate Education committees, they...
    Sam Aaron

    Written by
    April 17, 2025

  • The disconnect between graduation rates and college readiness in South Carolina

    Increasing concerns about grade inflation have emerged in education, particularly regarding its impact on students’ preparedness for higher education and the workforce. While rising graduation rates may indicate academic success, they do not necessarily reflect an increase in college readiness. 
    Charles Ann MacDonald

    Written by
    March 21, 2025

  • South Carolina House passes universal school choice bill

    On Thursday, the South Carolina House passed S.62, the Education Scholarship Trust Fund, by a vote of 80-32. The bill now returns to the Senate, where lawmakers will decide whether to accept or reject the House amendments.  Last week, the House Education Committee made several key changes to the Senate’s...
    Sam Aaron

    Written by
    February 27, 2025

  • School Choice: Second Time’s the Charm?

    Update: On February 19, 2025, the House Education & Public Works Committee considered the bill, adopted several amendments, and ultimately passed it. The amendments introduce several key changes. First, they eliminate lottery funding, instead drawing resources from the state general fund. These funds will be placed into a trust and managed...
    Sam Aaron

    Written by
    January 31, 2025

  • 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...
    Sam Aaron

    Written by
    September 27, 2024

  • 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.
    Sam Aaron

    Written by
    September 11, 2024

  • 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.
    Sam Aaron

    Written by
    July 16, 2024

  • 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. 
    Bryce Fiedler

    Written by
    June 24, 2024

  • 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...
    Bryce Fiedler

    Written by
    May 22, 2024

  • 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...
    William Morton

    Written by
    April 26, 2024