HALL MONITOR: “YES” to establish an educational scholarship trust fund in South Carolina (SB 39)

PDE Action supports South Carolina SB 39.

Name: South Carolina Senate Bill 39, Educational Scholarship Trust Fund

Summary: Establishes the Education Scholarship Trust Fund Program

Signed into Law: May 4, 2023

Bill Sponsors: Sen. Lawrence Grooms [R]

A sponsor is a legislator who presents a bill to the legislature to be considered for a vote

Bill Breakdown: 

This bill establishes South Carolina’s Education Scholarship Trust Fund program, expanding school choice access to 15,000 students in the Palmetto State. 

It defines the requirements for students and schools who wish to participate in the program and how the program will be administered.

The bill provides funding for families who wish to send their children to private school, with lower-income families receiving first priority for scholarship funds. 

Unlike other school choice programs, S39 would allocate funds for vouchers from the state’s general fund—not taking funds from the state’s public school system.

Why did PDE Action support this bill? 

PDE Action believes that school choice and parental rights go hand in hand. Parents, not the government, know what educational environments suit their child. PDE Action supports any effort to expand education opportunities to families.