SC Senate debates private school choice for poorer students
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — The South Carolina Senate's debate on a bill that would give some poorer or disabled students money so they could pick a private school or public school outside their district will continue into next week.
The bill provides up to $6,000 in state money each year. Along with tuition, the money could also go toward textbooks, materials, education services or equipment for disabled students.
The program would be limited to students whose family income is low enough to make them eligible for Medicaid and students who have disabilities that require a formal plan for their education from a school district. More than half of the state's 781,000 students could use the program.
Thursday marked the second day of debate on the proposal. No vote was taken.
The proposal is the evolution of more than a decade of Republicans pushing to put money into providing more education choices for parents. Problems with online or in-person classes during the COVID-19 pandemic gave the legislation more urgency. Sponsors tailored the bill toward poorer families or those with special education needs.
Opponents maintain that such a program likely violates the state constitution, which prohibits spending public money on private or religious schools. They said $6,000 doesn't cover the full tuition at some private schools and poor students can't afford to make up the difference.
They also contend that a fairer solution would be to put more money into education, especially in poorer areas, instead of concentrating on a plan not popular with educators.
“Teachers have screamed for years that this doesn’t help us," Democratic Sen. Mike Fanning of Great Falls said. “Please stop bringing your politics to our classrooms.”
The program would be limited to 5,000 students the first year...