Monday morning, Wayne Wingate, who
attended Rock Hill public schools and sent his children to them, will
hold a press conference at the downtown library to announce a campaign
to defeat a bill that would give tax credits to families that homeschool
or send their children to private schools.
Wingate said there are about 20 members in his group now. They will
gather signatures for a petition urging our local legislative delegation
to defeat the bill, known as the Put Parents in Charge Act. Locally,
three Republican legislators have signed on as bill co-sponsors: Greg
Delleney Jr., Gary Simrill and Ralph Norman.
Monday evening, Hollie Bennett, the mother of three children
attending Rock Hill public schools, will go to the Baxter Hood Center to
hear a presentation organized by South Carolinians for Responsible
Government, which is lobbying for the act.
Bennett said two of her children are doing well in Rock Hill public
schools, but one could benefit from more individual attention and
parental input, something she believes a private school could better
provide. But sending even one child to a private school would create a
financial hardship for the family. She supports the tax credit bill.
It's no coincidence that groups on both sides of the issue will seek
the spotlight one day before the legislature convenes. It promises to be
a hot legislative issue this session. This bill, introduced by Gov. Mark
Sanford, caught considerable interest when it was introduced in March
but never made it out of the House Ways and Means Committee.
Both sides have been gearing up for battle since the legislature
adjourned last spring. A revised version has been prefiled.
Those opposing the bill say, if adopted this session, it will take
$200 million from state operating revenue in 2010 when it would go into
full operation. They argue it would imperil not only public schools, but
other state programs and place a heavier burden on taxpayers.
Those in favor say it would help families that can't afford it to
send their children to private schools and would also benefit public
schools by lowering class size and creating competition among public
schools.
"We are talking about a huge gamble with our children's education,"
said Wingate, owner of Durango Bagel on Charlotte Avenue. "No
independent research has substantiated that it has a positive influence
on education. The risk is too great for a reward that has not been
demonstrated."
Wingate would support a pilot tax credit program in a county where
schools are performing poorly.
"I'm a social worker in South Carolina," said Bennett, "and I have an
interest in the lower socio-economic group. We do a very poor job of
educating them in South Carolina. This gives them choices. What we are
doing now is not working. If this isn't the answer, then what is?"
How would it work?
Families that earn less than $75,000 a year could get a state income
tax credit for 80 percent of private school tuition or homeschool
supplies. Credit caps are tiered based on whether a child is in
kindergarten, grades one through eight or in high school up to about
$4,000.
State income tax credit could also be claimed for contributions to a
scholarship fund for private schools.
For example, if a person who earned less than $75,000 a year was
scheduled to pay $3,000 in state income tax, but was spending $4,000 a
year -- the average cost of a private school education in South Carolina
-- on private school tuition, that person would not have to pay state
income tax.
How is it different from the bill proposed in March?
The primary difference is that last year's bill included tax credit
for property taxes.
This bill also includes an oversight committee to monitor the
Scholarship Granting Organizations the bill proposes. It also calls for
a long-term study on the effects of the tax credits.
How would it affect the state budget?
The S.C. Board of Economic Advisors estimates it would cost the
state's general revenue budget at least $200 million when the program,
if approved, goes into full effect in five years.
Denver Merrill, spokesman for South Carolinians for Responsible
Government, said property taxes were removed from the bill so it would
not affect local property taxes.
"It is that much less money available for prisons, education, health
care, the highway patrol," countered Scott Price, general counsel for
the S.C. State School Boards Association. "You run the map of state
services -- critical state services. If they have carved that money out,
it will raise property taxes at the local level."
Is the tax credit money public or private?
"Opponents say this is government money," Merrill said. "That isn't
true. The government never gives money to the parents or to the school.
These parents [of private school children] are spending money for other
kids to go to school in addition to their own."
"That money should follow that child where ever that child goes to
school," agreed Fred McKay, principal of St. Anne Catholic School.
Opponents disagree.
"If I don't call the police department or don't use some state
highway, should I have to pay a tax for it?" asked Wingate. "We pay many
taxes for the common good of all. No matter how you shake it out, a tax
credit takes money from the public."
Merrill counters it's up to legislators to determine how the state's
general revenue fund is spent.
What about academic accountability?
Opponents argue the bill includes no measures for academic
accountability.
"I see nothing that says a private school must hire a certified
teacher," said Walter Brown, a member of the Rock Hill School Board.
"And I am talking in terms of PACT testing [given to elementary and
middle school students in South Carolina] and the Exit Exam high school
students must take. I see nothing in the bill mandating this to private
schools."
Merrill counters that most private schools do give standardized
tests, although they are not the same as the tests public schools
give.
"Our students meet national testing standards," added McKay. "I think
all schools should be accountable. I think private schools are more
accountable because the parents are paying money and they let us know
every day."
If enacted, should private schools meet Constitutional standards
public schools face?
Lawsuits have been filed in other states where education tax credits
have been implemented. Some have questioned whether tax credits should
be granted where children are attending religious-based schools,
contending it violates the Constitutional right to separation of church
and state. South Carolina's Constitution prohibits public dollars going
to parochial educational entities.
Opponents also argue that, if tax credits are enacted, private
schools where parents are taking the tax credit should also meet
standards public schools must meet in regard to minorities and
special-needs students.
The bill's proponents say that the tax credit is not public money and
should not come under the same mandates as public schools.
McKay points out that St. Anne Catholic School was integrated before
local public schools were.
"As a state, we have to take care of the needs of special children,
and I have no problem with funding that through the state," he said.
"This is about parents' choice. We're not set up to handle special-needs
children. Why would you want to send your child here?"
Would the measure help children from poor families?
Opponents say that a poor family earning less than say $30,000 a
year, does not pay enough in state income tax to benefit from the tax
credit.
Supporters point out the bill would give income tax credits to those
donating to the Scholarship Granting Organizations. Merrill said these
were set up specifically for children with financial need.
However, opponents argue the bill says little about who would receive
the scholarships. They also contend businesses could use the
scholarships as a tax loophole, further impacting state funding.
Is there an out-of-state interest in this?
Opponents say lobbyists from other states have targeted South
Carolina and have been pushing this bill, either because they have
private school financial interests or want to set a precedent here for
other states.
They specifically cite LEAD (Legislative Education Action Drive), a
national group.
Price also contends All Children Matter, based in Michigan, donated
money to S.C. senators' election campaigns.
Merrill, who was born and raised in Charleston, said All Children
Matter has not been involved with his group, which he said has 80,000
members in South Carolina.
The fight ahead
Merrill: "I know it's going to be a big old fight. We want to get
across this is not an effort to hurt the public school system. This is
to help kids who aren't getting the help they need in public
education."
Debbie Elmore, spokesperson for the state school board association:
"This legislation is strongly proposing two publicly funded systems of
education, public and private parochial. Some people believe it could
lead to resegregation. This legislation does nothing to address
improving public education, but gives you an incentive to abandon
it."
Karen Bair • 329-4080
kbair@heraldonline.com
