Lawmakers Unveil Education Bill

Published in THE GREENVILLE NEWS          March 25, 2009

http://www.greenvilleonline.com/article/20090325/NEWS01/903250362/1070/YOURUPSTATE01

By Tim Smith • CAPITAL BUREAU • March 25, 2009

COLUMBIA -- A black Democratic senator joined a House Republican from Greenville County on Tuesday to unveil school choice legislation to offer parents scholarships and tax credits if they move their children from one school to another.

The South Carolina Education Opportunity Act would offer tax credits ranging from about $2,400 to almost $5,000 to help pay for tuition for those transferring schools, including those going from public to private schools. It also would give up to $1,000 in credits for instruction materials for home-schooled students.

Public school students whose families have a household income of 200 percent or less of the federal poverty level would be eligible for a full scholarship provided by business donations under the plan.

Backed by House and Senate Republicans who support school choice, Sen. Robert Ford, a black Democrat from Charleston who is considering a 2010 run for governor, cited his civil rights experience in pushing for a choice for children attending failing schools.

He said his switch to support school choice had nothing to do with politics or any contributions from school-choice advocates.

"I should have done this years ago," Ford told reporters. "I don't like what I see happening to young children who are forced to go to failing schools."

Rep. Eric Bedingfield. a Mauldin Republican who is the bill's chief House sponsor, praised Ford for his "courage" in supporting a school choice plan.

Bedingfield said although he is awaiting an official fiscal impact of the bill, a preliminary study shows it would gain revenue for the state.

 

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