Every time state lawmakers try to create school vouchers, which provide public funding to fund private schools, they get blocked by the courts. This is partly because of a section of the South Carolina Constitution that reads:
No money shall be paid from public funds nor shall the credit of the State or any of its political subdivisions be used for the direct benefit of any religious or other private educational institution.
To get around this obstacle, lawmakers are now attempting to repeal that part of the State Constitution. If the joint resolution passes, a question about repealing Section 4, Article XI of the South Carolin Constitution will appear on ballots in the next General Election.
We oppose this bill because: Private schools were not created to serve all South Carolina students. Many existing private schools in our state have policies excluding LGBTQ students, members of religious minorities, nonreligious students, and students with disabilities.
Additionally, South Carolina public schools have real problems and have been chronically underfunded for generations, particularly in rural areas and majority-Black districts. Stealing public funds to subsidize private schools will not improve outcomes for those students.
