Universal School Choice Legislation Gets Green Light in South Carolina House Ahead of Pilot Program

SOUTH CAROLINA – The House Republicans in South Carolina granted approval for a course of schooling on Wednesday, March 20, that all students K-12 are eligible for, in the form of scholarships.

The move comes in the wake of a bill’s passing with a tally of 69-32, with a division along party lines in votes. The legislation’s objective is an ambitious expansion of the state of South Carolina’s K-12 scholarship scheme, even before the program’s first round of application reviews have concluded. The earliest anticipated date for parents getting their scholarship money is in July, but the Supreme Court of the state is yet to decide whether the move is constitutional.

Shift to Universal Accessibility a Surprising Deviation

Critics have voiced their concerns, stating that the Republicans accelerated the move from pilot year to universal accessibility surprisingly quickly. When facing questions regarding the rapid transition, the Republicans held their ground, undeterred by the rush. The legislation saw fresh criticism regarding its alleged drastic deviation from the rationale provided in its support during its initial year of enactment.

Impact on State Budget and Scholarships

The newly enacted law promises 5,000 low-income learners a scholarship amounting to $6,000, aimed at aiding parents cope with private schooling costs, including transportation, tuition, textbooks, and more for the incoming academic year. By 2026, it has been projected that the bracket could extend to include 15,000 students belonging to higher-income households. However, income will still remain a determining factor with regards to eligibility, with an upper limit in place of $125,000 for a family of four as an example.

Under the proposed bill, yearly scholarship amounts are set to rise, while the income eligibility criteria are planned to be phased out by 2026. According to the Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office in the state, the cost of the program would stand at an estimated $106 million in lieu of $90 million in the 2026-27 period.

Questions Remain on Future Costs and Eligibility

Questions remain about the cost of the program post-2026, and whether all students in K-12 within the state will qualify for the taxpayer-funded scholarships. It is currently estimated that about 57,000 students in South Carolina, who are being schooled privately, and 33,000 students studying at home stand to benefit from the move. The actual costing of the program is contingent on the Legislature’s allotment for the education spend.

Backlash from Democrats

Criticism has arrived mainly from the Democrats who claimed that the ruling party’s fiscal irresponsibility might put the financial future of districts within the state at risk. In a somewhat confusing turn of discussions, concerns were raised that public aid could result in private schools increasing their costs. The bill also faced backlash over the perceived opportunity for private schools to raise tuition fees, with Democratic party members warning that costs could skyrocket in the absence of state regulation.

Rejection of Limitations on Private Schools

The Republicans rejected attempts to prohibit schools from pricing students out or requiring the state to pay the full tuition fees for students eligible for Medicaid. The bill didn’t find takers in the attempts to cap yearly increases in student admittance numbers or making it necessary for participating private schools to admit all students. The proposed ban on participation from for-profit schools was similarly rejected.

What Next for the School Choice Bill?

Given that the Republicans control a supermajority in the chamber, the opposition and criticism mounted on the bills had little impact on the outcome. The bill has now been moved to the Senate, where the likelihood of getting approved this year is slim. GOP leaders contend that any expansion at this stage would be premature; they seek a court ruling and data on how the program works before making any adjustments.