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

Come join us for an exciting event with school choice evangelist Corey DeAngelis as he embarks on the nationwide tour for his brand new book, The Parent Revolution.  WHEN: June 14, 2024 at 1pm (doors open at 12:30) WHERE: 1824 Barnwell Street Columbia, SC 29201 BOOK YOUR TICKET TODAY! This is a must-attend event for

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE MAY 15, 2024 COLUMBIA — This spring marked the first year of applications for South Carolina’s brand new Education Scholarship Account (ESA) program, the Education Scholarship Trust Fund. In the short two-month application window from January 15 to March 15, the South Carolina Department of Education received an astounding 7,907 applications for

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

Learn more about our June 22 event with the Carolinas Academic Leadership Network. Whether you are a community member who wants to learn how to make a difference and find out what to look for in a good candidate, or a school board candidate who wants to run an effective campaign and fight for our public schools, this Primer is for you!

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

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE MARCH 20, 2024 Universal ESA Bill Passes South Carolina House  Income and Previous Public School Attendance Requirement Removed  COLUMBIA — By a vote of 69-32, the South Carolina House of Representatives today gave second reading to H. 5164, a bill that, if signed into law, would expand the state’s new Education Scholarship