By Karen Bair The Herald
(Published October 30‚ 2004)
A state bill that could give tax credits to parents who send their children to private schools is drawing intense interest from both supporters and critics, even though the Legislature doesn't convene for another two months.
The bill has been dubbed the Put Parents in Charge Act by Gov. Mark Sanford, its biggest backer. It never made it to full committee in the House last session, but nearly a dozen new versions are undergoing revision in Columbia.
The S.C. School Boards Association opposes the bill, and recently a committee of Rock Hill school board members and more than 20 parents of public school students met to exchange information and plan their campaign.
"It's probably time to circle the wagons involved in the battle," board member Walter Brown told the crowd. "There's a pretty good chance it will get through the House."
But proponents say it's time for a change in the educational system.
"For too long we've been loyal to the education bureaucracy, but we haven't been loyal to kids who are getting left behind," said Sanford's spokesman, Will Folks.
Under last session's version of the bill, families that earned less than $75,000 a year could get tax credits for 80 percent of private school tuition on property or income taxes. Home-schooling families also could use the credits.
Caps were $3,200 for a kindergarten student, $4,000 for a student in first through eighth grades and $4,600 for students in ninth through 12th grades. Tax credit could also have been claimed for contributions to a scholarship fund.
"You never know what tweaking you will see," Folks said. "This is the governor's bill. We obviously will be following the bill very closely to make sure parents' choices are protected in the bill."
Foes say the bill is a covert way to fund school vouchers. They point to money spent by lobbying groups from Michigan and Washington, D.C., to push it through. They contend Sanford is offering more per student in tax credits than the approximately $1,800 the state spends on average per pupil for the basic education program.
The plan would be phased in over five years. The S.C. Board of Economic Advisors estimates it would cost $234.4 million once it goes into full effect.
Those in favor of the bill say public schools would receive more per pupil as some children leave public schools. Opponents counter that public schools still face fixed costs for heat, transportation and salaries, and would have to pay those bills with less money.
Those in favor also say it would allow poor children struggling in public schools to attend a private school. Opponents, however, say low-income families could still not afford private schools and that a child who is failing may never be accepted by a private school.
Supporters say competition with private schools would improve public schools. Opponents counter that public schools face state and federal accountability while private schools don't.
State Sen. Greg Gregory, R-Lancaster, who sits on the Senate's education committee, told the school board and parent committee he would only support the bill if the state fully funded the Education Finance Act, which requires so much state money per child. The state is spending less per child now than it did when the recession set in around 2000, he said, even though the EFA now requires the state to be spending more than it did then.
"We are so far from funding EFA now," he said, "I don't see that happening."
He predicts that concessions that would have to be made for the bill to become law would include some state control over private schools that accepted tax credit tuition. In Florida where a tax credit was enacted, court rulings have concluded the credit violates constitutional separation of church and state in schools with a religious foundation.
"If I were running a state school, I'd be wary of any legislation that puts some state control over my school if it takes state money," he said.
Sen. Wes Hayes, R-Rock Hill, agreed. "The taxpayers will probably demand some type of oversight," he said. "Public schools are held accountable. I think there would have to be some type of control or testing to measure success. A lot of Christian schools have been reluctant to have the state oversee curriculum."
Supporters expect it to pass the House in February but say it will be more difficult in the Senate.
"The education lobby is a strong lobby," said Rep. Greg Delleney, R-Lancaster, who supports the bill. "There is no stronger lobby in Columbia. It's going to have a tough time in the Senate."
On that, Hayes concurs. "We have the filibuster in the Senate, and I suspect this will be hotly contested. I think it will be difficult to get a bill this controversial through."
Karen Bair • 329-4080