The Artis Ware Center For Education Opportunity

Named to honor the inspiring legacy of U.S. Senator Tim Scott’s grandfather, The Artis Ware Center for Education Opportunity works to advance educational excellence and hope for every South Carolina child.
A Message from U.S. Senator Tim Scott

The Latest

Blog
July 16, 2025

Penalizing Charter Schools for Their Success?

Palmetto Promise Team

When COVID hit, many parents who were suddenly homebound used that extra time to investigate what kind of education their children were receiving. In some cases, it didn’t require much sleuthing. After all, COVID forced parents to experience lessons and assignments in real time. Student achievement, course content, and funding at their zip code-assigned traditional

Blog
July 10, 2025

General Assembly Boosts Public School Choice in ESTF Legislation

Annika Boeh

Most legislative observers missed it, but buried deep in S.62—the bill whose primary purpose was to reestablish South Carolina’s private school choice program (the Education Scholarship Trust Fund)— was a glimmer of hope for public school choice. The encouraging provision, which introduced the idea of interdistrict transfers for all students, can be found in Section

Girls in school uniform studying in the library
Blog
July 8, 2025

Victory for Families: A Historic Breakthrough for School Choice Becomes Federal Law

Wendy Damron

On July 4, 2025, President Trump signed into law what may be the most significant federal school choice measure in American history. This new law, which includes Section 25F of the Internal Revenue Code, creates a permanent federal tax credit for donations to Scholarship Granting Organizations (SGOs). And it is nothing short of a game-changer.

Blog
June 30, 2025

Palmetto Promise’s School Choice Efforts Named Finalist for Two Awards

Palmetto Promise Team

Palmetto Promise Institute is pleased to announce that we have been named a finalist for two State Policy Network awards due to our diligent work to restore school choice for South Carolina families. In the 2024-25 school year, South Carolina’s first ESA program was finally underway, and thousands of low-income families were enrolled in their

Blog
June 12, 2025

Federal School Choice at a Crossroads: What the Senate Must Do Next

Wendy Damron

In May 2025, the U.S. House of Representatives passed President Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill,” a sweeping policy package that includes the Educational Choice for Children Act (ECCA), a $5 billion annual tax credit scholarship program that could significantly expand educational freedom for families across the country.   This legislation, long championed by parents and

Blog
May 23, 2025

Federal School Choice Could Become a Reality with Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill”

Wendy Damron

After weeks of negotiation and deliberation, President Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” passed the United States House of Representatives this week. Palmetto Promise is glad to see so many important components of this legislation, like continued tax cuts, deregulation, and more. But the part we are most excited about is the inclusion of the Educational

Blog
May 13, 2025

South Carolina restores school choice with bigger, better program

This article was originally published in The Lion. Up to 10,000 South Carolina students will be eligible for school choice this fall after Gov. Henry McMaster signed legislation restoring and expanding the state’s previous program. The Palmetto State had a school choice program last year, but the state Supreme Court abruptly halted it in September, just weeks into the

Blog
May 9, 2025

How To Apply For A Life-Changing Education Scholarship

Wendy Damron

As a parent, I know firsthand how life-changing it can be to find the right school for your child. My own children each had different needs, and the right fit made all the difference in their growth, confidence, and success. That’s why school choice isn’t just policy to me—it’s personal. Over the past year, the Palmetto

Blog
May 7, 2025

SC bill would require every school board meeting to be recorded, posted

Palmetto Promise Policy Analyst Felicity Ropp is quoted in this article, originally published in WJBF and WSPA. COLUMBIA, S.C. (WSPA) – In Columbia, lawmakers are making headway on a bill that would make school board meetings more accessible to the public. Supporters said the legislation, if passed, would increase transparency between school districts and families. The bipartisan

Blog
April 30, 2025

South Carolinians Should Always Have Access to School Board Meetings!

Felicity Ropp

In 2025, live-streaming is a fact of life. Churches, political parties, sporting events, legislative bodies, and more are easily accessible online in realtime and for replay after the fact. But school boards across South Carolina still lag behind. That’s a huge problem. South Carolina citizens should have easy online access to watch their elected representatives