By Dr. Oran P. Smith, Senior Fellow
The word from the Statehouse is....pretty good!
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| Dr. Oran P. Smith, Senior Fellow |
The SC Senate hearing on our new Special Needs Scholarship earlier this week was notably calm and productive…a welcome change from the frayed nerves typically reserved for education freedom issues in the Palmetto State.
The three entities charged with implementing the law – the Department of Revenue, the Department of Education, and the Education Oversight Committee – in their own official way told our State Senators that the Scholarship they crafted was indeed do-able.
Though strictly factual in their assessment, it was clear that the hastily constructed budget proviso offered by Senator Kevin Bryant (R-Anderson) last spring faced no huge implementation barriers.
Yes, three non-profit organizations could receive donations to send special needs children to private schools, and the donor could get a tax break for it...right here in South Carolina!
As for next steps, the Senate Committee thought it best that the next meeting be dedicated to hearing from representatives of states where Special Needs Scholarships are working. This was music to the ears of Palmetto Policy Forum.
Since our inception six short months ago, PPF has been in constant contact with the very best programs: Florida, Georgia, Arizona, and Louisiana. We also learned that a key player in one of those states was even educated right here in South Carolina!
There are many challenges facing South Carolina students, and the road is long if we are to catch up with our neighbors. But this year's small step could be a giant leap. Time will tell.
