SC House to State Universities: Stop DEI, Protect Free Speech!

Education
Blog · March 28, 2024

Earlier this week, after hours of debate and over 100 amendments proposed (but with just one adopted) the South Carolina House of Representatives passed legislation banning Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) from hiring, promotion, and admissions policies in state colleges and universities. The measure also included language protecting free speech on campus. The vote on

Breaking Down 2024-25 ESTF Application Data

Education
Blog · March 27, 2024

For the 2024-25 school year, South Carolina’s Education Scholarship Trust Fund (ESTF) program has 5,000 slots available to students who meet the eligibility requirements: 1) have attended a public school during the 2023-24 school year OR are entering kindergarten for the 2024-25 school year and 2) have a household income at or below 200% of

Let My People Work!

Quality of Life
Blog · March 26, 2024

Back in 2020, Palmetto Promise Institute published the Palmetto Playbook, a football-themed policy manual designed to “move South Carolina’s economy down the field” after the pandemic. We were in COVID lockdown, so we had plenty of time to draw on scores of policy recommendations and state rankings from across the nation. Very quickly, we were

South Carolina House approves measure to expand education scholarships

Education
Blog · March 21, 2024

Palmetto Promise CEO Wendy Damron is quoted in this article by Todd DeFoe at The Center Square. (The Center Square) — The South Carolina House of Representatives signed off on a measure to expand the Education Scholarship Trust Fund. Lawmakers voted 69-32 in favor of H.5164 on its second reading. The measure would expand a

Universal ESA Bill Passes South Carolina House

Education
Blog · March 20, 2024

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE MARCH 20, 2024 Universal ESA Bill Passes South Carolina House  Income and Previous Public School Attendance Requirement Removed  COLUMBIA — By a vote of 69-32, the South Carolina House of Representatives today gave second reading to H. 5164, a bill that, if signed into law, would expand the state’s new Education Scholarship

Our Top 10 Recommendations for 2024 Judicial Reform

Quality of Life
Blog · March 19, 2024

It is the spring of judicial reform in the South Carolina Statehouse. We have analyzed the major bills being considered by the House and the Senate, and, drawing on our previous judicial reform reports like 2021's Judging the Judges, our team has compiled our top 10 priorities we think the General Assembly ought to include in any judicial reform bill that passes this spring.

The New Health Agency: Efficiency? YES. Czar? NO.

Healthcare
Blog · March 14, 2024

Download this legislative analysis report. After the South Carolina General Assembly passed legislation separating the Department of Health & Environmental Control into separate agencies (Act 60, 2023), the legislature began work on a comprehensive measure that would streamline health functions across state government. The Senate has passed S.915 and the House has passed H.4927, each