South Carolina Well-Represented at U.S. House Education Committee Hearing

On August 25, 2026, the United States House Committee on Education & Workforce held a hearing on protecting servicemembers in schools, citing concerns where teachers or school board members were discriminated against because they took a leave of absence for military service.

Of the three testifiers at this hearing, two were from South Carolina: Chris Neeley, Superintendent of the South Carolina Public Charter School District and a Colonel in the United States Army Reserve, and Jonathan Butcher, Acting Director of the Center for Education Policy at the Heritage Foundation and Visiting Fellow for Education here at Palmetto Promise.

The two fielded questions about how military service translates into leading a charter school district, supporting staff who are actively serving in the military, addressing the unique needs of military-connected students who bounce between school districts, and more.

We have included links to both of their written testimony and have embedded the recording of the committee hearing below:

For Superintendent Neeley’s written testimony, click here.

For Jonathan Butcher’s written testimony, click here.