The Story of Mary McLeod Bethune, an Education Trailblazer

Education
Blog · February 12, 2021

Born in South Carolina in 1875, education pioneer Mary McLeod Bethune's understanding was limited to her life experience of being a daughter to former slaves and picking cotton with her family...until she picked up her first book and her life changed forever. Now, her legacy is inspiring the next generation in the fight to ensure that all South Carolina children—no matter what kind of house they live in or the color of their skin—have access to the education option that helps them reach their full, individual God-given potential.

SC lawmakers considering bill that would require high-stakes testing this spring

Education
Blog · January 20, 2021

PPI Senior Fellow Oran Smith appears in this news story from WSPA. COLUMBIA, SC (WSPA) — As teachers and students continue to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic in South Carolina, many are wondering how the pandemic has impacted academic performance. Last year, South Carolina received a waiver from the federal government for standardized testing due to

South Carolina Legislature convenes Tuesday; McMaster’s state of the state address Wednesday

Education
Blog · January 11, 2021

PPI President and CEO Ellen Weaver is quoted in Center Square regarding PPI’s priorities for the 2021 legislative session. (The Center Square) – South Carolina lawmakers will return to Columbia on Tuesday to begin the 2021 legislative session, and more than 800 pieces of legislation already have been filed for the General Assembly to consider.

An Education Freedom Agenda

Education
Blog · January 8, 2021

Effective Education for Every Student These 19 recommendations are drawn from the Palmetto Promise Playbook report. You can view our policy agenda for other issues by clicking below. Energy  | Healthcare | Tax & Budget | Work, Justice, & Quality of Life EXPAND EDUCATION CHOICE Adopt an Education Scholarship Account (ESA) law that will provide qualified

Meet Janie Neeley: Mom, Teacher, Advocate

Education
Blog · September 28, 2020

“SAFE Grants have created the opportunity for our family and families like ours to truly have school choice, give our children the chance to succeed and give us the ability to fully support their learning needs.” Columbia, SC “I have three children. My oldest is 23. She chose to commission into the army and she’s

Students with special needs being left behind with virtual learning, SC parents say

Education
Blog · September 23, 2020

“The public-school district was looking at four to six hours in front of a computer for virtual learning. Developmentally, that’s just not appropriate for a four-year-old with Down syndrome.” Janie Neeley has a four-year-old son with Down Syndrome. In late Spring, she decided to enroll her son in K4 at their local public elementary school

550+ SC Parents speak out on need for SAFE Grants

Education
Blog · September 16, 2020

Public policy work can never be ho-hum, when you realize that it’s all about making people’s lives better! That’s why we’ve dedicated ourselves to sharing the stories of real people and promoting policy solutions that provide real relief for our South Carolina neighbors. Amid the Coronavirus fallout, there is no better example of impactful, common sense policy than SAFE Grants, which would open up new education hope for struggling low- and moderate-income families. These grants would provide qualified families with the financial support they