The last twenty-four hours since the South Carolina Supreme Court released its decision in Eidson et al. v. SC Department of Education et al. have been a whirlwind of uncertainty and confusion. Our team has received a number of emails and phone calls from ESTF recipient families and from education service providers wondering what the decision
Back to school is almost here! We are so excited to start the first year of South Carolina’s ESA scholarship, the Education Scholarship Trust Fund program. For the 2,880 students approved for the ESTFs in this first year, the first $1,500 of their $6,000 ESA will be made available in the ClassWallet online portal by
We know can be a little overwhelming looking through local school options to find the best fit for your child. That’s why our friends at National School Choice Week put together this handy search tool, where you can enter your zip code, preferred distance, child’s age, and desired type of school to find all
In order to accept scholarship funds from the Education Scholarship Trust Fund program, independent schools and other entities must be registered with the SC Department of Education as Education Service Providers. These applications are accepted on a rolling basis, so this list is constantly being updated. For the most up to date list, check your
For the 2024-25 school year, South Carolina’s Education Scholarship Trust Fund (ESTF) program has 5,000 slots available to students who meet the eligibility requirements: 1) have attended a public school during the 2023-24 school year OR are entering kindergarten for the 2024-25 school year and 2) have a household income at or below 200% of
We have learned that particular ESA application questions asked in the FACTS portal may be confusing to some applicants. Here are some of the questions that may be unclear or confusing with our recommended advice for answering. Our advice should serve as a recommendation only and does not substitute for official guidance from FACTS, ClassWallet,
When the South Carolina Education Scholarship Account (ESA) legislation was being written, there was the option of naming it an Education Savings Account (ESA). South Carolina legislators chose not to do this because of the confusion it might create with federal Coverdell Education Savings Accounts. The key difference aside from state versus federal law is whose money funds the
Education service providers are a person or organization approved by the SC Department of Education to provide educational goods and services to scholarship students. The Department will develop an application process for participation in the program which outlines the criteria and timeline for approval and will certify a list of approved education service providers
If a child receives an ESA, a wide range of educational services opens. Tuition and transportation for a South Carolina private (independent) school is just one option for ESA spending. If you think a private school may be an option for your family, the South Carolina Department of Education provides a list.This list does not necessarily
Yes. Even as the U.S. Supreme Court has overwhelmingly upheld school choice programs of all stripes, state Constitutional questions born of bigoted anti-Catholic Blaine Amendments have routinely plagued voucher programs. However, Education Savings Accounts have withstood Blaine Amendment challenges precisely because of their legal differences from vouchers. Arizona, home of the nation’s oldest ESA program, provides the framework.