South Carolina Education Dept. launches $6k student scholarship application portal

ABC News 4 quoted Palmetto Promise in this article by Bryce Jacquot originally published in January 2024.

SOUTH CAROLINA (WCIV) — A portal created by the South Carolina Department of Education to accept applications for $6,000 scholarships to qualifying South Carolina students is now open.

The Education Scholarship Trust Fund (ESTF) was created by the legislature in 2023 and is similar to Education Scholarship Account (ESA) programs, according to a release from Palmetto Promise.

South Carolina Superintendent of Education Ellen Weaver is the former President and CEO of Palmetto Promise.

The program is administered by the Department of Education. The $6,000 is approximately the average tuition for a private school in the Palmetto State, according to the release.

Families can use ESTF funds to pay for approved expenses like independent school tuition and fees, tutoring, educational therapies, online courses, and more, the release states.

The portal created by the Department of Education opened Monday, Jan. 15. You can apply for the scholarship at the Department of Education’s website.

Education providers, including private schools will need to apply to be apart of the ESTF program and can do so at the same website.