Overview of South Carolina's School Voucher Program
South Carolina's school voucher program, launched to support low- and middle-income families with K-12 children attending private or out-of-district public schools, has faced significant challenges in its first year. Data from the S.C. Department of Education reveals that over a third of the nearly 3,000 students who received taxpayer-funded vouchers last year either withdrew or were removed due to eligibility concerns. This highlights the complexities and missteps in implementing such a large-scale initiative.
Eligibility and Enrollment Verification Issues
To qualify for a voucher, students could not be enrolled full-time in their local district. However, the department suspended the accounts of 1,229 voucher recipients after they were flagged during enrollment checks. These checks aimed to confirm that participants had left their zoned school districts. About one in five of these suspended accounts were reinstated after further review confirmed their eligibility, while the remaining 1,005 participants, who had already received at least one $1,500 scholarship payment, left the program.
All of the recipients removed due to enrollment verification had been enrolled at their zoned public schools, according to a statement from the education department. The department recovered unused funds from these accounts but did not attempt to recover money already spent. The law does not provide a mechanism for recouping funds, as explained by a department spokesman.
Financial Disbursement and Expenditure Patterns
The program disbursed over $1.5 million in scholarships, with more than half of the $3.1 million used by recipients during the first five-and-a-half months spent at major retailers like Best Buy, Staples, and Office Depot. These purchases primarily included computers and technological devices, as well as instructional materials. Another $982,000 was spent at private schools, with more than a third of these institutions espousing anti-LGBTQ beliefs. Additional funds were allocated for tutoring and public school expenses.
Despite clear guidelines, many participants were unaware that enrollment in their resident district was prohibited. State officials discovered this issue when conducting their first student count on the 45th day of the school year. This led to the suspension of numerous voucher recipients, some of whom may have never left their public schools or returned after a court ruling deemed private school tuition payments unconstitutional.
Criticisms and Recommendations
Critics, including Patrick Kelly, a lobbyist for the Palmetto State Teachers Association, noted that problems are expected in the first year of any large program. The Education Oversight Committee (EOC) report highlighted confusion among participants regarding enrollment requirements and other eligibility criteria. Some respondents indicated they had not attended a South Carolina public school the previous year, which is a requirement for all students except those entering kindergarten.
The EOC recommended improved communication and pre-verification of eligibility before releasing scholarship funds. However, current laws require the release of first-quarter payments in July, making it challenging to ensure compliance before disbursement. Deputy Superintendent Laura Bayne stated that the department would continue to comply with the law regarding funding distribution and eligibility verification.
Legislative Changes and Future Outlook
Changes to the voucher law, enacted this year, aim to simplify eligibility verification. Recipients are no longer required to enroll outside their local public school districts, only outside their zoned schools, and prior public school attendance is no longer mandatory. These adjustments should ease the burden on state education officials.
As of late June, all 10,000 voucher slots for the 2025-2026 school year were filled. Families making no more than 300% of the federal poverty level, or $96,450 for a family of four, are now eligible for $7,500 scholarships. The funds can cover a range of educational expenses, including tuition, transportation, uniforms, tutoring, and technology.
With ongoing improvements and legislative updates, the future of South Carolina’s school voucher program remains a topic of interest and debate, reflecting broader discussions about educational equity and policy implementation.