In a recent article from Fox News, Arkansas Governor Sarah Sanders claimed that the improvements in education driven by recent reforms positions her state as a “blueprint” for education reforms nationwide. Let’s take a minute to break down Arkansas’ education reforms to test that claim (at least as they compare to South Carolina). Is Arkansas

The following article originally appeared in the Post & Courier. As the 2025 General Assembly headed out the door, emotions in the public education community were raw. A conflict over funding between traditional public school districts and statewide public charter districts led to a Band-Aid that left neither side happy. As the 2026 General Assembly

In this article, originally published in the South Carolina Daily Gazette, I discuss how South Carolina ensures that our higher education degree programs are delivering meaningful, high-quality education through regular program review by the Commission on Higher Education and the colleges themselves. Columbia, S.C. (SC Daily Gazette) – Suddenly, one of the most pressing issues

In this article originally posted in the Post and Courier, Dr. Oran Smith  comments on legislation concerning the transparency of University president headhunting. By Anna B. Mitchell amitchell@postandcourier.com   CLEMSON — After decades of giving the public a chance to vet candidates for some of the state’s top positions in academia, South Carolina’s leading universities

In this op-ed, originally published in The Post and Courier, I discuss the potential for groundbreaking statewide public charter school funding reform that hinges on a decision resting with the Jasper County Council.  They are currently considering giving some local funding to some of their charter schools, which could serve as an important test case

I recently joined Stephen Biddix from WIS10 to discuss the passage of H.5073, which bans grade floors in traditional and public charter schools and reforms credit and content recovery programs.  Check out the story below, or head to the original story to watch my video interview! Columbia, S.C. (WIS10) – Parents across South Carolina could

Governor Henry McMaster recently signed S.454 into law, enacting a plethora of reforms to the public charter school sector.  Originally conceived to address the (then-impending) closure of Limestone University and the affiliated Limestone Charter Association, S.454 has been hotly debated and heavily amended during its journey through the legislative process. Now that the dust has

I was fortunate enough to join ABC 4 News (Charleston) to offer some commentary on H.5073, Rep. Fawn Pedalino’s (R – Clarendon) ban on grade floors in public schools.  The bill has since been signed by Governor McMaster and will be in effect for the 2026-27 school year. COLUMBIA, S.C (WCIV) — South Carolina lawmakers have

Just yesterday, April 28th, the South Carolina Department of Education (“the Department”) released the open enrollment guidelines required by Section 12 of S.62, the bill that re-established the Education Scholarship Trust Fund (ESTF) after it was struck down by the South Carolina Supreme Court in 2024.  Specifically, this section required the Department to develop model guidelines for interdistrict transfers (i.e. transfers between school districts),

Charleston County School District has created quite the stir in the charter school sector over the last couple of days – first by suggesting amendments to a piece of legislation that reforms and strengthens how charter school authorizers function in South Carolina (amendments that would create different requirements and oversight mechanisms for local and statewide