This week, I was honored to be invited to speak to the Downtown Aiken Rotary, one of the oldest and largest clubs in the state. Education was front and center. My mission: to pack this massive (and massively important) issue into a digestible 20-minute talk! We touched on many topics we’ve shared in previous emails,
South Carolina continues to sink below our southeastern neighbors in education outcomes. On almost every indicator, data shows that South Carolina is behind the curve. In light of that, Palmetto Promise has done some digging to look at how South Carolina really stacks up to our neighboring states on education innovation and performance. We’ve assigned 1-4 rankings
When it comes to fixing the problems in our state’s worst performing school districts, nearly everyone thinks that bold action at the state level is needed. But, in the face of immense local pressure to stand down, will the state act?
With over 70 sources of money, South Carolina’s system for funding our public schools is one of the most complicated in the country!
Base Student Cost provided 58% of state aid to school districts. It now provides only about 38% of state funding.
The 2019 South Carolina legislative session saw a strong focus on K-12 education. New education spending topped $150 million. While many important needs were met, most notably the teacher pay increase, there is still work to be done in order to unlock South Carolina’s true potential and improve educational outcomes.
Many of us have a story of that special teacher that went the extra mile and poured their love of learning into us.
On the school funding debate, our bottom line is this: we have enough money in the system, we just need to let state-appropriated dollars follow the child, not arrive in blocks for programs.
The state senate took step forward in the effort to reduce administrative overhead, provide the economies of scale needed for effective leadership, and get more dollars to the classroom.
South Carolina’s “Year of Education” won’t be complete without big, bold school choice.
