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Some South Carolina lawmakers are keen to expand school choice and a bill is on the table that could help increase accessibility for families who may not have the financial means to send their children to schools. non-public schools. If passed, the legislation could create a parent fundraising account known as a scholarship account or ESA. âWe have seen and are seeing during this pandemic that one size does not fit all students,â said Rep. Jason Elliott. Elliott represents the 22nd District of Greenville and is a co-sponsor of Bill, which has received strong support. “This would mean that for individual families there would be a savings account, an online savings account for which the parent or guardian would be responsible and the state portion of the funding per person – which would be around $ 5,000. at $ 6,000 per person. student – would go into that account and allow families to decide where that money goes, âElliott said. The money, he said, could go towards private or independent school tuition, books, transportation or other school services. âESAs are really about creating flexibility and allowing children, regardless of zip code or income, to access the educational environment that works best for them and meets their needs,â said Ellen Weaver. , President and CEO of Palmetto. Promise Institute, a conservative think tank in South Carolina. The ESA would apply to: children whose family income is up to 200% of federal poverty guidelines (for a family of four, this would represent up to $ 52,400 in annual family income); children eligible for Medicaid; children who have participated in the South Carolina Early Reading Education and Development Program ⢠Children who are outstanding students before “I am a product of the South Carolina Public Schools from beginning to third cycle, but what I’m seeing in South Carolina is that we have a lot of needs that haven’t been met and I think we’re starting by building on a better education system in South Carolina for all the students in providing the freedom and the ability to empower parents to make that crucial decision about what is best for their child, âsaid Elliott. St. Joseph’s Catholic School in Greenville said an ESA could help. âThere are families who would love to be here, but they don’t think it’s a possibility at all, so they don’t even look,â said Keith Kiser, principal of St. Joseph’s Catholic School in Greenville. “We’re trying to shout from the rooftops that we’re going to work with you and make it work for you if it’s okay with you.” The Roman Catholic Diocese of Charleston, in a statement, also said it would welcome legislation creating ESA funding. provide quality education in a Christian environment. ESA funds will give parents the opportunity to send their child (ren) to the school of their choice, regardless of their ability to pay. We support any legislation that empowers low-income families, âsaid Maria A Aselage, director of media relations for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charleston. Elliott said tuition fees for a large number of independent private schools in South Carolina do not exceed that threshold of $ 5,000 or $ 6,000. He said there was hope that some schools would be willing to work with families unable to achieve this level of education, even after using ESA funds.
Some South Carolina lawmakers are keen to expand school choice and a bill is on the table that could help increase accessibility for families who may not have the financial means to send their children to schools. non-public schools.
If passed, the legislation could create a parent fundraising account known as a scholarship account or ESA.
âWe have seen and are seeing during this pandemic that one size does not fit all students,â said Rep. Jason Elliott.
Elliott represents the 22nd District of Greenville and is a co-sponsor of Bill, which has received strong support.
“This would mean that for individual families there would be a savings account, an online savings account for which the parent or guardian would be responsible and the state portion of the funding per person – which would be around $ 5,000. at $ 6,000 per person. student – would go into that account and allow families to decide where that money goes, âElliott said.
The money, he said, could go towards private or independent school tuition, books, transportation or other school services.
âESAs are really about creating flexibility and allowing children, regardless of zip code or income, to access the educational environment that works best for them and meets their needs,â said Ellen Weaver. , President and CEO of Palmetto. Promise Institute, a conservative think tank in South Carolina.
ESA would apply to:
⢠Children with family income up to 200% of federal poverty guidelines (for a family of four, this would represent up to $ 52,400 in annual household income)
⢠Children eligible for Medicaid
⢠Children who participated in the South Carolina Early Reading Education and Development Program
⢠Children who are previous exceptional students
âI’m a product of South Carolina public schools from early to postgraduate, but what I see in South Carolina is that we have a lot of needs that haven’t been met and I think that we are starting by building on a better education system in South Carolina for all students by providing the freedom and the ability to empower parents to make this crucial decision as to what is best for their child, âsaid Elliott.
St. Joseph’s Catholic School in Greenville said an ESA could help.
âThere are families who would love to be here, but they don’t think it’s a possibility at all, so they don’t even look,â said Keith Kiser, principal of St. Joseph’s Catholic School in Greenville. “We’re trying to shout from the rooftops that we’re going to work with you and make it work for you if it’s okay with you.”
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Charleston, in a statement, also said it would welcome legislation creating ESA funding.
“Like all other schools in our state, our Catholic schools have suffered from the pandemic. Despite the many challenges, teachers and staff continue to provide quality education in a Christian environment. ESA funds will donate to parents the ability to send their child (ren) to the school of their choice, regardless of their ability to pay. We support any legislation that empowers low-income families, “said Maria A. Aselage, Director of Relations with media for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charleston.
Elliott said tuition fees for a large number of independent private schools in South Carolina do not exceed that $ 5,000 or $ 6,000 threshold.
He said there was hope that some schools would be willing to work with families unable to achieve this level of education, even after using ESA funds.
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