Yesterday, the South Carolina Department of Education released its 2025 school report cards—offering the latest snapshot of how our public and public charter schools are performing. These annual report cards do more than just track test scores. They reveal whether students across our state are truly gaining ground—or if persistent gaps remain. For policymakers, the
Civic knowledge and engagement have been in decline nationwide for decades. South Carolina is no exception. The Palmetto Civics Project is the state’s response to this trend — asserting that South Carolina’s students should exit school not only with academic skills, but also with readiness to participate in democracy, preserve freedom, and strengthen community. The
According to Proviso 1.3(X) in this year’s budget, the South Carolina Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office (RFA) was directed to “…review the student weightings used in the State Aid to Classrooms funding formula and examine methods to improve the alignment of State Aid to Classrooms funding with student enrollment while ensuring districts and charter authorizers
In January 2025, The Nation’s Report Card released the scores from the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) for 4th, 8th, and 12th grade math and reading—though South Carolina has not tested 12th grade math since 2013. Usually administered every other year, NAEP gives us a snapshot of our academic achievement. When paired with
This week, the American Civil Liberties Union of South Carolina (ACLU – SC) filed a lawsuit on behalf of the South Carolina Association of School Librarians and three public school students against the South Carolina Superintendent of Education and the Greenville County School District. The lawsuit challenges SCDE Regulation 43-170, which prohibits the use of
Supporting families, protecting opportunity, and advancing a national model for educational freedom
The United States Department of Education is releasing guidance on unconventional ways that states can enact some forms of school choice using federal funds or policy. In a March 2025 “Dear Colleague” letter, Hayley Sanon, Acting Assistant Secretary of the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, reminds states that they may reserve 3% of their
The University of South Carolina System is taking a leadership role—alongside public higher education systems in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas—in creating a new accrediting agency focused on public institutions. This first-of-its-kind collaboration, known as the Commission for Public Higher Education (CPHE), aims to strengthen academic excellence, prioritize student outcomes, and streamline accreditation
COLUMBIA, SC – Palmetto Promise Institute was named the winner of the State Policy Network’s top honor, the Bob Williams Award for Policy Achievement – Biggest Win for Freedom, in recognition of the work Palmetto Promise has done to restore South Carolina’s school choice program and protect children’s futures. In September 2024, the South Carolina
University institutes may not always grab headlines, but their impact can be felt far beyond campus. These organizations bring together students, faculty, and community members to explore big ideas, host thought-provoking events, and sometimes even shape public policy. While you might be familiar with popular centers focused on athletics, history, business, or health sciences, South