The South Carolina House has passed a tuition tax credit program that would give children access to scholarships to attend a private school of their choice. Individuals who donate to the privately funded scholarships for low-income and special needs students would be eligible for a tax credit.
The proposal also creates tax deductions for families to help cover educational expenses. Families would receive tax deductions of up to $4,000 to cover the cost of sending their children to private schools, $2,000 for homeschooling, and $1,000 to help with expenses related to sending their children to an out-of-district public school.
State Representative Eric Bedingfield said the bill is about providing choices: “Parents have spoken out enough to make lawmakers understand that they deserve choices. Education is not a one-size-fits-all proposition. Each child is educationally unique in how they learn.”
Robert Enlow, president and CEO of the Friedman Foundation for Educational Choice, concurred: “Like many states this year, South Carolina recognizes the need to support greater educational options for parents,” he said, adding that the proposal is “a testament to the willingness of lawmakers to put the needs of students before the interests of adults.”
Evan Walter is currently a member of the Young Leaders Program at the Heritage Foundation. For more information on interning at Heritage, please click here.