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Ott, Smith disagree on private school tuition credit plan

Improving South Carolina's schools was the subject of a lively televised debate Tuesday between House Speaker Pro Tem Doug Smith, R-Spartanburg, and House Minority Leader Harry Ott, D-St. Matthews.

Smith was among the leaders in establishing accountability measures, such as the Palmetto Achievement Challenge Tests, "so we could determine and measure where our public schools are today."

The legislation provided more resources and dollars for the most struggling schools, Smith noted. "But we aren't moving up."

Citing SAT scores and graduation rates, Smith said, "It's time for us to explore other proven and successful methods of educating children. Parents are looking for options that are more suitable to meeting their children's needs."

Smith said Gov. Mark Sanford's tuition tax credit plan, called Put Parents in Charge, has "created a debate on how we're going to move our state from the cellar. It has provided a vehicle for at least starting to talk about it."

"I agree with Doug that we need to continue the debate on public education," Ott replied. However, "the vehicle he has proposed is the wrong one.

"Number one, it has no accountability in it. You cannot spend public dollars and have no accountability mechanism. That flies in the face of everything we do. It is simply not acceptable," Ott said.

"Number two, we have no idea how much this program is going to cost," Ott continued, citing estimates ranging from $240 million to $400 million a year.

"Number three, no state in the nation has ever put this plan in place statewide," Ott said. "It's irresponsible on us to put an experiment in place with no price tag.

"Number four, private schools are still going to be in charge of who they accept" as students, Ott said, adding that many non-public schools are unwilling or unable to accommodate children with special needs.

A school with a relatively homogeneous student body can educate those children more quickly and less expensively, Ott said.

Smith replied, "That defies common sense, quite frankly."

"Maybe school choice or Put Parents in Charge is not the answer," Smith said, "but we can't sit around and accept the status quo. ... We have to have some alternatives."

And opponents of PPIC haven't put up a plan of their own, he added.

There's no need, Ott replied: "The accountability system in place is bringing us positive results. ... South Carolina set a record in the nation with a 32-point increase in the average SAT score. ... We've found a mechanism that is working."

"The problem is, we put a program in place and before we give it time to work, we throw it out with the dishwater," Ott said.

Smith disagreed. "Accountability is not going to bring about results," he said, while "a tuition tax credit will provide opportunities for many parents."

Ott asked, "Are we willing to take public dollars and start paying for private education without accountability?"

Smith said PPIC "does have financial accountability." He shrugged off the lack of accountability in academic achievement by saying, "Without question, the parents know what's best for their children."

Ott said the bill is geared to "reward the upper income" families. He said the bill would provide a family of four, with two children, a $2,700 tax credit on household income of $40,000 and a $7,000 tax credit on household income of $75,000.

Smith noted, "The median cost (of non-public school tuition) is less than $3,200."

But where, Ott asked, is the less well-off family going to get the additional tuition, plus transportation and book costs?

Possibly, Smith replied, from the Scholarship Granting Organizations that would be authorized under PPIC.

Smith insisted that PPIC would not bust the budget. He said studies have predicted only 5 to 10 percent of parents would claim a tax credit under PPIC.

Ott asked, what about all of the children currently being educated outside of public education?

Smith replied, "... Read the bill .... You'll find out a current private schooler cannot take advantage of this legislation."

Given the last word, Ott predicted that "there will be Democrats and Republicans opposing this bill."

Ott and Smith sparred on "This Week in the House," a weekly half-hour television program that airs live at 11:30 a.m.

Tuesdays during the Legislative session on SCETV's digital broadcast service and the South Carolina Channel. It is sponsored by SCETV, the S.C. Press Association and the S.C. Broadcasters Association.

House Speaker David Wilkins launched the show at the beginning of this Legislative session. He and his guests — the lineup varies from week to week — discuss timely political topics and reply to questions from print and broadcast journalists. Wilkins announced his guest next week will be Gov. Sanford.

Wilkins said the Senate will start its own show in about a week. The shows "make us do our job better," he said. "An informed citizenry is one that makes their elected officials better."

-- T&D Staff Writer Lee Hendren can be reached by e-mail at lhendren@timesanddemocrat.com or by phone at 803-533-5552.