Speaker Lucas, Reps. Elliott, Erickson, Fry sponsor new education bill

(COLUMBIA, S.C.) – House Speaker Jay Lucas joined Representatives Jason Elliott, Shannon Erickson, Russell Fry and more than 59 co-sponsors to introduce the South Carolina Education Scholarship Account (ESA) Act this afternoon. The bill creates the framework for an ESA system that will give South Carolina parents an unparalleled ability to tailor an education best suited to the specific needs of their child. Under the provisions of the bill, parents of eligible students will receive a flexible education grant that can be used to customize their child’s education through an online, parent-directed account. Notable provisions included in the bill:

• Eligible recipients include children whose family income is 200% of federal poverty guidelines, are eligible for Medicaid, have participated in the South Carolina Early Reading Development & Education Program or are prior Exceptional SC students
• Any local and federal funds remain with the school district in which the student resides
• Multiple accountability measures, including the creation of an ESA Review Panel and required national norm-referenced tests, will be put into place to ensure program success

The bill’s sponsors issued the following statements after the bill was introduced this morning:

“Now, more than ever, it has become profoundly obvious that in order for the children of our state to succeed, we must provide them with the option to pursue the education that best suits their individual needs,” said Speaker Lucas. “This legislation opens the door for the parents of our state’s most vulnerable children to make the choices that will maximize their child’s educational opportunities.”

“I am proud that today is the day South Carolina follows in the footsteps of many other state’s successful ESA programs and introduces this legislation,” said Rep. Erickson. “Parents will always know the educational needs of their children best – so it is time we let them make those decisions and support them in every way we can.”

“The introduction of today’s Educational Scholarship Accounts legislation reaffirms the House’s commitment to encouraging educational choice, especially for the most underserved children of our state,” said Rep. Elliott. “Without letting local or federal funds ever leave the home district, we can allow students the freedom to pursue the education that is best for them – thus, allowing for more education success stories in our state.”|

“This legislation is a home run for the parents and student of our state – which makes it a home run for our state as a whole,” said Rep. Fry. “By giving eligible children more choice in where and how they are educated in our state, we are opening up the door of opportunity for them to succeed in ways previously not possible.”

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