We are proud to share that Palmetto Promise Institute, along with our partners in North and South Carolina, have been awarded the Heritage Foundation’s 2024 Innovation Prize for our work on the Carolinas Academic Leadership Network (CALN). CALN aims to empower school board members throughout the Carolinas by honing their leadership skills in governance, professional development,

This column by Senior Fellow Dr. Oran Smith originally appeared in The Post and Courier May 19, 2024. Looking back over South Carolina’s civic life, most historians would agree that Carroll Campbell has been among our state’s most effective governors. It was Campbell, a Republican with a General Assembly that was 61% Democratic, who shepherded

Palmetto Promise Policy Analyst Felicity Ropp is quoted in this article from the Center Square by T.A. Defoe.    (The Center Square) — A legislative conference committee will soon hash out differences in a measure to reform South Carolina’s Judicial Merit Selection Commission. Last week, the South Carolina House passed S. 1046, a bill reforming the

Palmetto Promise Policy Analyst Felicity Ropp was quoted in this article by T.A. Defoe in the Center Square. (The Center Square) — The South Carolina House passed a bill to reform the state’s Judicial Merit Selection Commission, changes that stem from the Ad Hoc Committee to Examine the Judicial Selection and Retention Process House Speaker

Palmetto Promise is quoted in this piece by Patrick Gleason, originally published in Forbes. Kevin Costner’s character in Field of Dreams, winner of the Oscar for Best Picture in 1990, was inspired to turn an Iowa cornfield into a baseball diamond after hearing the words, “if you build it, they will come.” In the reality of

Palmetto Promise Senior Fellow Dr. Oran Smith is quoted in this article on Certificate of Need Reform written by Patrick Gleason and originally published in Forbes. South Carolina is a red state where Republicans have long held statewide offices and majorities in the state legislature, but the Palmetto State has not been a national leader

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

Palmetto Promise President Wendy Damron is quoted in this article from The Center Square on South Carolina’s new ESA program. (The Center Square) — South Carolina is accepting applications for a new education scholarship that proponents say is the future of education in the state. Last year, state lawmakers passed S.39, the Educational Scholarship Trust Fund,

ABC News 4 quoted Palmetto Promise in this article by Bryce Jacquot originally published in January 2024. SOUTH CAROLINA (WCIV) — A portal created by the South Carolina Department of Education to accept applications for $6,000 scholarships to qualifying South Carolina students is now open. The Education Scholarship Trust Fund (ESTF) was created by the legislature

Dr. Oran Smith is quoted in this article from The Center Square by T.A. DeFeo. (The Center Square) — While about a quarter of South Carolina schools received an excellent grade in a new analysis, officials say more work is needed to ensure students are prepared for their next moves in life. Statewide, state officials