Thank you all for coming out.

We are here today to unveil a new education initiative for South Carolina’s children, because when it comes to their future, the time for politics is over.

We are also convinced that our state must continue to move forward in education, but never leave one single child behind.

These legislative leaders standing with me today are committed to the promise of a first class education for every child in South Carolina.

Our plan is mirrored after a bill prefiled by Ways and Means Chairman Bobby Harrell, which will allow children to transfer out of a failed public school and into another school of their choice inside or outside their existing school district lines.

Most would agree that our Education Accountability Act has been a tremendous success. We will now be able to accurately measure a school’s performance in a tangible way.

We will finally know which schools are exceeding our expectations and which are not. But just knowing which schools are failing our children is not enough… We must be able to pinpoint the problems and make necessary changes.

And if improvements are not made….. the next logical step is to provide these South Carolina families with another option for their children.

And let me also add that some might try to convince you that this plan is ‘risky’, or some kind of ‘voucher scheme’. Well, is there anything more risky than sanctioning failure in our schools?

This plan is all about the children of South Carolina and the promise that each one of them holds for our collective future. It is not intended to solve all of the education problems we have in South Carolina. Only with families, educators and students alike working together will we see the day when our education system is second to none.

But this plan will strengthen our education accountability law and shine some light, and a ray of hope, in the heart of every young child in this state hungry to learn and eager to excel.

I will be happy to have any of our elected officials come forward and speak then take any questions that you may have about this exciting new plan.

Thank you.