On Monday, South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster released his proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2026-27.  This budget, developed in coordination with executive agency heads and presented to the General Assembly in January every year, not only outlines the state’s financial situation, but also offers insight into what Governor McMaster considers top priorities for the upcoming year.    After reviewing

What a year 2025 has been for the state of South Carolina! With a 2026 election cycle well underway (including a series of Statehouse special elections in recent days) and a busy initial year of the two-year legislative session, there has been no shortage of political activity. As we prepare for the 2026 legislative session, we would like to take a moment to reflect on the impact Palmetto Promise Institute has had on

There are very few policy issues that drastically affect families, employers, and the state economy all at the same time, but child care certainly fits in this category. South Carolina parents are struggling to find affordable child care, making it increasingly difficult to balance holding down a job and raising a family. Many parents face termination or reduced hours, as frequent child care-related absences— defined as time off required to provide necessary care or attention to a child when normal care

This op-ed by Dr. Oran Smith and Michael Wright was published in the Post and Courier. From families to industries, everyone wants a piece of what the Palmetto State has to offer. As South Carolina continues to grow, we must identify sustainable energy solutions to mitigate an increasingly strained electricity supply while keeping rates affordable,

On April 28, 2023, Samantha Miller died tragically after being struck by a drunk driver in Folly Beach, South Carolina. It was her wedding day. What was supposed to be the happiest day of her life turned into a nightmare for Samantha, her fiancé, and her family.   In South Carolina, drunk driving is not just a statistic—it is a way of life for some drivers. In 2022, South

This column by Palmetto Promise board member Barry Wynn was originally published in FitsNews. For more than three decades, I’ve worked at the intersection of investment management, retirement planning, and sound public policy — helping families plan for their futures and advising institutions on how to safeguard the assets entrusted to them. As former Chairman

This column by Palmetto Promise board member Van Hipp was originally published in Newsmax. Education is a national security issue. America’s upcoming 250th anniversary is a time to ensure our youth understand what it means to be an American. In recent years we haven’t emphasized American history and civics in our schools like we have

With the signing of S.62 during the 2025 legislative session came a revamped Education Scholarship Trust Fund program designed to withstand any further constitutional challenges that may come its way. The bill also included a requirement that the South Carolina Department of Education develop model guidelines that traditional public schools must use to create an

South Carolina residents hardly need an introduction to one of the most significant sources of tax revenue in the Palmetto State: property taxes. The property tax is one of the Palmetto State’s oldest forms of taxation and is a staple for state and local government revenue all across the country.  According to the Tax Foundation,

The school choice environment in South Carolina is evolving rapidly. Just a few short years ago, families were forced to attend their residentially zoned traditional public school, drive their children to a local public charter school (if they were able), or pay for private school tuition out of their own pocket – effectively trapping lower