AIKEN - Legislation that would provide a tax credit or a scholarship to families transferring their child out of a failing public school is generating sharp debate in the Legislature.
Critics say it would cripple struggling schools, but supporters say it would give parents control over their children's education.
Under the Educational Opportunity Scholarship Act, parents who opt to send their pupils to a different public school, a private school or home school program could receive a $1,000 tax credit for expenses associated with the transfer.
Families who transfer their child from a failing school to a private school could choose between the $1,000 tax credit and an annual scholarship of up to $4,500 for tuition costs.
Failing schools are defined in the act as those receiving absolute score ratings of below average or unsatisfactory on the most recent state school report cards.
The legislation was introduced in the House on Jan. 26, within days of an Aiken County school board committee's release of options for revamping the district's school-choice program.
The school board is likely to discuss some of the committee's options at its next meeting Tuesday.
John B. Bradley, the school board chairman, said that last year the board voted against similar legislation and forwarded the tally to the Aiken County legislative delegation.
"This is just transferring public money to the private sector," Dr. Bradley said. "It weakens support in the public schools."
Rep. Roland Smith, R-Langley, the chairman of the House Ways and Means K-12 education subcommittee and a sponsor of the act, said it would enable families to have a choice in their children's education.
"Kids in unsatisfactory schools will have that opportunity," Mr. Smith said.
Debbie Elmore, the director of communications for the South Carolina School Boards Association, said the legislation, similar to the Put Parents In Charge bill that was defeated last year, would make it more difficult for below-average schools to reverse a trend of low report card ratings.
"It does nothing to help student achievement overall in South Carolina," she said. "As policy makers we have an obligation to educate all children in this state. That means making sure the schools that are not successful have the resources and the programs that need to be in place to improve the school."
Molly Spearman, the executive director of the South Carolina Association of School Administrators, said the organization opposes public money being spent on private schools, which have different accountability standards.
"We believe that there should be, for any public endorsement or public monies, some type of accountability, some type of standards that are set," she said.
Jim Foster, a spokesman for the state Department of Education, said that he hadn't studied the new bill in depth but state Superintendent Inez Tenenbaum did not favor the legislation in the General Assembly last year.
"Superintendent Tenenbaum will oppose any measures that have the potential to hurt public schools," Mr. Foster said. "This is a revised version of legislation that was defeated last year that would have done just that."
Linda Coffin, who home-schooled a son who now attends the University of South Carolina Aiken and is currently home-schooling seven other children, said she supports the legislation.
"If it was truly a choice for parents then I think that would be good legislation," Ms. Coffin said.
Cindy Speer, a parent who home-schooled two sons through graduation, said the tax credit would be beneficial because online Internet educational courses can be expensive.
"The key advantage to providing this opportunity is to put back in the hands of parents a tool to make the education of their children their choice," Ms. Speer said. "They need to decide, and this will help them decide."
Reach Nathan Dickinson at (803) 648-1395, ext. 109, or nathan.dickinson@augustachronicle.com.
