Southerners know the wisecrack that comes up whenever talking about some less-than-stellar state statistic: “Thank goodness for Mississippi.” Sadly, South Carolina’s education system just lost that excuse. On April 10, the National Center for Education Statistics released its 2017 results for the National Assessment of Educational Progress, or NAEP. Also known as the “Nation’s Report
Even as students (and the South Carolina Senate) enjoy spring break and golf nuts get their Masters fix, policy news here in Columbia hasn’t taken the week off! This week saw noteworthy developments on a couple key issues we’re watching at the Statehouse: Real results: House votes to establish Santee Cooper study committee Fresh on
On Tuesday, March 20, Palmetto Promise Institute will present its analysis of the current state and future prospects for Santee Cooper, the state-owned utility known officially as The South Carolina Public Service Authority. Palmetto Promise scholars and a specially-empaneled team of research economists will present its report “Santee Cooper’s Uncertain Future: A Historical, Policy and
What is “competency-based education” and how would it impact South Carolina students? Issue at a Glance South Carolina lawmakers are currently considering a bill to allow schools to opt into a competency-based education model. Competency-based education – also called “personalized learning” – allows schools the option to innovate away from an old one-size-fits-all education model
With every new year comes a new round of rankings on every topic imaginable. Apparently tax policy is no different, and its ranking season has begun. Two new state rankings reports place South Carolina among the top finishers in states with the lowest tax rates. The first report, by 24/7 Wall Street, uses Tax Foundation
Thursday, House Research staff presented a plan for statewide comprehensive income and sales tax reform to South Carolina Speaker of the House Jay Lucas and the South Carolina House Tax Policy Review Committee. The plan represents a critical step forward to create fairness for hardworking South Carolina citizens, stability to fund state promises and essential
In the fight for freedom here in the Palmetto State, weeks – even months – can go by without seeing conservative ideals advance in the General Assembly. Then, seemingly out of nowhere, will come a week that is nothing short of a gift. The legislative week that just ended was one of those epiphanies. Here’s
South Carolina’s K-12 education system suffers not despite its variety of revenue streams, but because of them. A tangled web of different revenue sources, costly mandates and new programs has pushed up administrative costs while perpetuating student underperformance. And worse, the current system diminishes transparency, insulating it from reform. Parents and taxpayers should demand better
To freedom-loving South Carolinians, the only worse words than “federal” and “conformity” spoken singly are “federal conformity” spoken jointly. The most current relevance of federal conformity refers to whether South Carolina should change its tax code to match the provisions of the sweeping (and very positive) tax law passed by Congress and signed by President
South Carolina’s public schools are supported by a host of education funding sources that have seen healthy growth over the years. But are taxpayers getting their money’s worth? A new study by the Palmetto Promise Institute reveals the disconnect between revenue and results when it comes to educating South Carolina kids. South Carolina’s 81 public
