Put Parents in Charge plan moves forward

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Supporters of school choice are presenting the initiative as a way of providing choices for students from low-income families who truly lack the sort of educational alternatives available to children from wealthier families. But the income cap to qualify is so generous — $75,000 taxable income — that an estimated 96 percent of South Carolina families could benefit from the tax credits.

State Rep. James McGee, R-Florence, who voted for the plan in subcommittee, may propose an amendment that would limit the tax credits for private schools to parents whose children transfer from failing or unsatisfactory public schools. That certainly would be one way for the tax credits to target students who most need the benefits of school choice.

The tax-credit plan should not be a $200 million giveaway to families who already have the wherewithal to put their children in private school.

South Carolina needs limited school choice. But because school choice will shift finite taxpayer dollars from public to private schools and homeschooling parents, the plan should be limited to students who are stuck in underachieving schools and truly lack real options.