FREEDOM IN EDUCATION AWARDS $50,000 GRANT TO PALMETTO PROMISE TO EXPAND SCHOOL CHOICE IN SOUTH CAROLINA
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: FREEDOM IN EDUCATION AWARDS $50,000 GRANT TO PALMETTO PROMISE TO EXPAND SCHOOL CHOICE IN SOUTH CAROLINA
Supporting families, protecting opportunity, and advancing a national model for educational freedom
ATLANTA, GA — October 1, 2025 — Freedom In Education (FIE) is proud to announce a $50,000 grant to the Palmetto Promise Institute, a leading South Carolina-based think tank and policy advocate, to further support families seeking access to educational choice.
This partnership comes at a pivotal moment in South Carolina’s school choice movement. The Education Scholarship Trust Fund (ESTF) program, created by legislation passed in 2023, launched its first year in 2024–2025 with a pilot program of 5,000 scholarships, designed to empower families with access to private education. Six weeks into the school year, nearly 900 students had already claimed scholarships valued at $6,000 each when a court temporarily halted the program.
In response, the Palmetto Promise Institute rallied support and raised emergency funds to maintain scholarships for students already enrolled, ensuring that no family was left without educational options while lawmakers prepared a permanent solution.
The new law, passed in May 2025, established 10,000 scholarships for the 2025–2026 school year, with at least 15,000 scholarships in future years and the flexibility for the South Carolina General Assembly to expand the program to meet growing demand. Thanks to targeted outreach by Palmetto Promise, particularly among low-income and active-duty military families, the 10,000 available slots filled quickly, creating a waitlist in the thousands. Palmetto Promise continues to assist both families and schools in navigating the program and is already preparing for the next application window in early 2026.
“We are deeply grateful for Freedom in Education’s partnership in supporting the implementation of South Carolina’s Education Scholarship Accounts. Their investment helps ensure that families not only have access to school choice today, but that it is protected and expanded for the future. Together, we are working to create generational change for South Carolina families,” said Wendy Damron, President of the Palmetto Promise Institute.
Freedom In Education’s Support
Freedom In Education’s $50,000 grant will directly support Palmetto Promise’s mission to meet this growing demand—helping families secure access to schools that meet their children’s needs and values.
“School choice is about dignity, opportunity, and justice for families,” said Melissa Jackson, President of Freedom In Education. “Palmetto Promise is leading the way with courage and clarity. We’re proud to stand with them in expanding freedom for South Carolina’s students.”
South Carolina’s scholarship program is projected to grow to 15,000 students in the coming year, with potential for further expansion thereafter. With long waitlists and public enthusiasm, Palmetto Promise continues to serve as a national model for state-led innovation in education.
“Other states should be looking at what’s happening in South Carolina,” said Don Charles, Executive Chair of Freedom In Education. “We’ve proven that when public policy meets private initiative, students win. With this partnership, even more doors are about to open.”
Why School Choice Matters
This growth reflects a broader national trend. Families across the U.S. are demanding greater control over their children’s education, and research shows that students with access to school choice options tend to perform better academically, graduate at higher rates, and report stronger overall satisfaction.
School choice also lifts underserved communities, providing families access to learning environments that support achievement, character formation, and personal responsibility.
“Freedom in Education believes the time has come for other states to follow South Carolina’s lead. With clear policy frameworks, community partnerships, and strong leadership from organizations like Palmetto Promise, states can design programs that serve students first—regardless of background or income level,” said Jackson. “This partnership is more than a grant. It’s an investment in a future where every child has access to an education that fits.”
As education continues to be one of the most hotly debated policy issues in the nation, South Carolina’s success—and the strategic partnership between Palmetto Promise and Freedom in Education—offers a powerful blueprint for change.
Media Contact:
Sabrina Caserta, FIE Communications Director
sabrina.caserta@freedomined.org
freedomined.org
