Sanford pitches ambitious education plan

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With little elaboration, Sanford pitched his ambitious plan, Contract for Change, at two Greenville County schools -- one private and one public -- saying it will help South Carolina students compete in the global marketplace of the future.

Sanford's five-point plan calls for reforming state government, lowering taxes and making the Palmetto State a more attractive place for economic development.

But the focus on this day was education. His goal, he said, is to give local school districts more flexibility in how they spend state money, and allow parents more opportunities to choose where their children go to school.

The governor's plan includes an education tax credit that would allow private-sector donations to fund scholarships for low-income students. At the same time, parents would be allowed to send their children to other public schools, charter schools, private schools or parochial schools or even home-school them in the event the child's needs aren't being met.

"I think the idea is great," said Christine Lee, a third-grade teacher at Mitchell Road Christian Academy, where Sanford stopped first. "It might be a case where a child's parents would want them to come here, but they can't afford it. I think this it would be a blessing for them."

At Mitchell Road Christian Academy, Sanford chatted with students about everything from broken bones to pet problems. And he spoke to parents and teachers about his concerns that no matter how much money has been pumped into public education over the last two decades, the state continues to lag behind the rest of the nation when it comes to graduation rates and SAT scores.

Later, he would visit with students and teachers in the cafeteria at Mitchell Road Elementary.

"In a world of transformative change, we can't afford to have incremental change in something as important as education," Sanford said. "The world is simply too competitive now. I believe very simply that you can either be loyal to the process or you can be loyal to the outcome of better-educated kids. I'm always going to be loyal to the outcome of better-educated kids. We've got far too many children, parents and teachers out there working far too hard for our state not to show better results than we're currently showing."

South Carolina ranks 26th in per-pupil spending, but the state's eight graders rank 43rd in the National Assessment of Education Progress (NAEP) test of reading proficiency, Sanford said. South Carolina also ranks next to last in graduation rates and recently slipped to 50th in the nation in SAT scores, he said.

Meanwhile, as a percentage of per capita spending, South Carolina ranks third in the Southeast in per-pupil education spending and fourth in targeted additional low-income spending per student, all while experiencing a 10 percent growth in the student population over that period, Sanford said.

"If you look at where we are on the funding history side of the equation versus where we are on the outcome side of the equation, I'd say there is a real disconnect," Sanford said. "More money is obviously part of the answer, but it isn't the only answer. That's why we're continuing to push for reforms that will give parents additional choices and kids expanded opportunities."

All three of Deann Walpole's children have attended Mitchell Road Christian Academy.

The oldest is now in high school, while her two youngest are still there.

"My children have responded really well to a small, nurturing environment," Walpole said. "It has allowed them to excel, and they have really done well academically, socially and spiritually.

"The year we moved my son here, he had 38 kids in his class. I felt like that was a no win situation for the teacher, the child who needs extra help and the child who is quite gifted. We felt like it was in our children's best interest for them to come here."

She said she is pleased to see the state moving toward providing that same opportunity for families who might not otherwise be able to afford it.

Phyllis Henderson has three children at Mitchell Road Christian Academy, and said she has always been a "huge supporter of school choice."

"This is geared toward moderate- to low-income families who might not have a choice otherwise," she said. "It is good to be able to offer that, and open up some doors."

Staff writer April M. Silvaggio can be reached at 298-4801.