Palmetto Promise Institute Internship Program

Our program is designed to provide young individuals with the opportunity to learn about state policy development and to gain hands-on experience working on policy research, legislative analysis, and communications.

2023-2024 Palmetto Freedom Agenda

Education Scholarship Accounts (ESAs) Signed Into Law

Beginning with the 2024-2025 school year, five thousand scholarships will be awarded to children from low and moderate income families (<$60,000 for a family of 4). Scholarships may be used not just for private school tuition but for a host of education providers. It is the ultimate customizable education. There are other restrictions. Children must have previously attended public school or be entering kindergarten. The portal for applying for these scholarships will open in March 2024. Schools are holding Open House events now. Get the ESA details here!

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January 24, 2025

RELEASE: Columbia School Fair Celebrates School Choice and Opportunities in South Carolina

COLUMBIA, South Car. (Jan. 24, 2025) – Families in South Carolina are eager to explore their school choice options, and dozens of schools in the Columbia and Lexington area are gathering to meet that need at a school fair timed to coincide with School Choice Week. No matter what type of school they’re looking for,

January 22, 2025

New Session, New Hope for Energy Reform

With the launch of a brand new 2025-26 legislative session, all bills that did not pass in 2023-24 were officially pronounced dead. Unfortunately, energy generation expansion and reform were among the key areas that saw no movement in the last General Assembly. But a conversation between Senate and House had begun. That’s progress. So, what

January 14, 2025

President & CEO Wendy Damron Given Major Award for School Choice Efforts

We are pleased to announce that Palmetto Promise Institute President & CEO Wendy Damron was awarded the Heritage Foundation’s 2025 Doer Award at the Awakening by Heritage Conference this past weekend. Heritage defines “Doers” as individuals who are making a difference in their personal lives or fields of work, advancing Heritage’s mission and values. The

January 9, 2025

Our 2025-26 Palmetto Freedom Agenda

The 126th session of the South Carolina General Assembly kicks off next week, on January 14. This two-year session, South Carolina has a chance like never before to expand freedom and opportunity in our state. I and the Palmetto Promise team are so proud of all the achievements of the last legislative session, and we

January 7, 2025

Palmetto State leads U-Haul report for first time ever

Senior Fellow Dr. Oran Smith was interviewed for this article, originally published in American Family News. An annual report from U-Haul suggests most Americans who moved last year settled in the South, continuing an annual trend, but a new southern state now tops the list. The line of moving trucks fleeing California and New York

January 7, 2025

What Improvements are Needed for South Carolina Telehealth Policy?

In February 2024, the General Assembly passed the SC Telehealth and Telemedicine Modernization Act (“The Act”). This legislation outlined a new definition of “Telehealth” as well as enhanced access to specific controlled substances through telehealth by updating tele-prescribing regulations. The update was careful to preserve necessary safeguards. The Act was a good first step, but

January 6, 2025

Some South Carolina Schoolhouse Rock: How a Bill Becomes Law

I’m sure we all remember the Schoolhouse Rock videos we used to watch in school growing up….“I’m just a bill, yes, I’m only a bill, and I’m sitting here on Capitol Hill….” The South Carolina Statehouse, while unfortunately lacking a catchy song, functions similarly to Congress, but there are some unique quirks in the South

January 6, 2025

REPORT: Achieving Prosperity, Stability, & Fairness – Essential South Carolina Tax Reforms

Palmetto Promise Institute’s new research report Achieving Prosperity, Stability, & Fairness: Essential South Carolina Tax Reforms lays out the tax code changes that state legislators would be wise to prioritize in the 2025-26 legislative session. INTRODUCTION Palmetto Promise Institute has produced two major reports assessing the competitiveness and fairness of the South Carolina tax code (2014;

December 17, 2024

New Poll Shows Americans Are Committed to Educational Freedom

A newly-released national poll conducted by yes. every kid. foundation. shows the steadfast support Americans have for education policies that prioritize choice and flexibility. Have you ever thought of the K-12 education system as flexible? Most Americans don’t, according to these poll results. And yet Americans (and parents in particular) crave flexibility in education, and

December 16, 2024

Education Without Censorship: How the FORUM Act Could Shape SC Higher Ed

College students that attend school in South Carolina deserve to exchange ideas freely and to have their speech fiercely protected. South Carolina should aim to be a place where all students from all backgrounds may speak their minds without censorship. This vision may become a reality this legislation session with the FORUM Act. Representative Bill

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