| Sanford Defends School Choice Plan |
| (Columbia) - Governor Sanford is defending
his statewide plan to provide school choice for parents with
children in failing schools. Earlier this week, a House panel voted to give tuition tax credits a limited trial run, instead of implementing them statewide. The panel amended the proposed "Put Parents in Charge Act," by having it tested in only two school districts for the next 12 years. Each year, school choice experts would analyze the educational and financial impact. The Department of Education would choose the two school districts; one with a high average income, and one with a low average income. Sanford says his plan has been proven to work in other states. "There have been test drives out there, and in every instance, it's improved public school performance," he said. Sanford doesn't support the idea of a pilot program, and neither do his opponents. The compromise doesn't fit well with those against tuition tax credits. "I just don't see school districts standing in line waiting and hoping to be the one chosen for this. It would be like the school district saying, 'We don't mind losing money, just pick us,'" said Debbie Elmore, with the SC School Boards Association. Elmore says 74 out of 85 school districts in the state have already passed resolutions against tuition tax credits and vouchers. She says even though this latest version is on a smaller scale, it still puts public money into private schools. Expect the full House to debate the pilot program next week. |