education

McMaster’s SAFE Grants Have Been Temporarily Blocked

On Wednesday last week, an Orangeburg County circuit court judge signed a restraining order, temporarily blocking Gov. Henry McMaster’s SAFE Grants. The stipend was originally in place in order to subsidize private and parochial school tuition for lower-income students. Now, it’s unsure as of when those will return.

McMaster’s SAFE Grant stands for Safe Access to Flexible Education. With $32 Million allocated toward funding the program, qualifying households can receive up to $6,500 on an as-needed basis. Though, the circuit court judge claims the grant program is in violation of the South Carolina Constitution.

“These funds could be better used by ensuring our public schools have as many resources as possible to ensure a safe return to in-person instruction when public health conditions make it possible to do so,” a member of the Palmetto State Teachers Association stated on the topic.

With Coronavirus impacting this coming school year, it’s no secret that educators need all the help they can get in these difficult times. As of now, the grant remains temporarily blocked, just weeks before the academic calendar is set to begin.

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McMaster Pushes To Re-open Schools This Fall

On Wednesday, July 15th, Gov. Henry McMaster joined by his fellow Republican House and Senate leaders executively decided that SC schools will re-open for in-person teaching. This press statement comes as COVID-19 cases continue to surge in the state. The district schools are being pushed to re-open with the option to choose between virtual learning and face-to-face learning.

McMaster says that “the classroom is one of the safest places to be,” in response to fear over Coronavirus. These plans are being made as the state believes that virtual education is not enough. Each district ultimately can decide a plan for themselves, yet now there must be an option that includes sending kids to school five days a week. As of 2019, SC schools remain #48 in state education across the country. It’s likely that the recent changes in schooling could impact the education kids receive. “What we need to do is take every step at our disposal to get kids back to schools,” McMaster said.

With this push to re-open comes a push for start dates to be halted. McMaster asks that schools consider beginning classes after September 8th, in addition to creating options for online and in-person learning.

There has been no official statement from SC school boards regarding final decisions for the upcoming fall semester. In the next few weeks, it’s possible we will see districts announcing plans that rotate between in-person and online classes.

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SC Universities Begin Altering Fall Schedules

College campuses across the state are introducing an altered Fall calendar. Instead of having the typical fall break, Universities are opting against. They’ll instead be enforcing an end to in-person classes at Thanksgiving to reduce the threat of COVID-19 on campus.

The University of South Carolina, the College of Charleston, and more are adapting. For the time being, it seems as though these shifts could remain. With the fear of a coronavirus second wave on the horizon, this option seemed the most secure. Instead of suspending in-person classes entirely, students will now be expected to learn without a break.

As hurricane season approaches, Universities have yet to comment on the matter. Academic calendars are subject to change impending any unforeseen circumstances. South Carolina schools follow a protocol each year regarding any ill weather or tropical storms. This year is no different.

With online learning technologies now widely known, it’s possible that college classes will continue from home in the case of a hurricane. For now, it’s difficult to say.

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South Carolina Lawmakers Issues Santee Cooper and Education

South Carolina Lawmakers Return Tomorrow – Here Are Two Issues You Should Be Watching

Featured Image Source: Andrew Whitaker, Post & Courier

South Carolina lawmakers return to the State House tomorrow, kicking off the 2020 legislative session, and all eyes are on two hot topics: education and Santee Cooper.

Last year, both were said to be a top priority of lawmakers but have found their way rolling into the new year with no clear future.

During the 2019 legislative session, the House passed a massive bill including a complete overhaul of our state’s education system, but the bill spent the remainder of the session being torn apart and dissected by state senators.

Meanwhile, Santee Cooper’s future has been up in the air for far too long while lawmakers go back and forth on what to do with the debt-riddled state-owned utility.

Lawmakers have once again named both issues a top priority this year, and it won’t take long to see if this holds true.

Sometime in the upcoming session, legislators will receive three bids for state-owned Santee Cooper – one a reform plan from Santee Cooper itself, one from a company that would manage the utility, and one from a privately-owned utility that would purchase Santee Cooper.

While supporters from all sides have come forward, lawmakers have a difficult decision to make. They must make sure they choose an option that will protect the millions of people who get their power and water from Santee Cooper and all South Carolina taxpayers.

Since the public was made aware of Santee Cooper’s billions of dollars of debt, many have expressed their concerns over rising electric rates, talk of a taxpayer bailout, and the responsibility of the debt falling on the shoulders of customers.

Palmetto Promise Institute, an organization dedicated to promoting a “free and flourishing South Carolina” and a strong supporter of selling Santee Cooper, stated the only way for South Carolina residents to avoid costs related to Santee Cooper’s debt is a sale.

Experts have found that a sale would allow a write-down of Santee Cooper’s $4 billion in nuclear debt. According to the report, “Over time, that $4 billion could double as interest is charged to customers.”

While lawmakers try to figure out the best way to deal with state-owned Santee Cooper’s debt, they’ll also have to keep in mind the tens of thousands of teachers who are looking for raises, resources and help, and the money it will take for education reform.

All eyes are on our lawmakers now as two major decisions need to be made, quickly.

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Governor McMaster Announces New Position In Hopes Of Improving South Carolina’s Education System

Featured Image: The Post and Courier

In a year full of controversy surrounding the Palmetto State’s education system, Governor McMaster has taken a step in the right direction.

On Wednesday, August 7, McMaster announced his decision to create a new position that will bridge the gap between the General Assembly and his office with regards to education policy. The long-time director of the South Carolina Education Oversight Committee (EOC), Melanie Barton, will be the first to hold the position of Senior Education Adviser to the Governor, starting next month on Sept. 3.

Barton will work to push forward ideas and transform the current status of the education system after years of disconnect between the Governor’s office and General Assembly. The two have been unable to reach a decision on the best path to fixing the state’s broken system, a problem which Barton hopes to combat.

“It gives more weight to the whole education debate. It will no longer be a legislative debate. It’s the executive branch, the Legislature all working together. I see it as a way to bridge the two bodies and the governor together for a single focus,” Barton told The Post and Courier. “That’s going to be my mission — how do we get everybody focused together? I’m totally committed to trying to help (McMaster) get the changes needed.”

In Barton’s role as Director of the EOC, she reported to a board that included legislators of both parties, business people and educators. The role required Barton to present accurate data on student performance and push an agenda for better education throughout the state, all while staying politically neutral and preserving a well-respected reputation in the General Assembly. This reputation among lawmakers played a large role in McMaster choosing her for the job.

“She was the pie in the sky, the holy grail and he was able to hire her,” Brian Symmes, McMaster’s spokesman told The Post and Courier.

At the beginning of the year, both McMaster and legislative leaders pledged to make finding a solution to the problems within the education system a top priority. In March, a bill passed in the House that would have made essential changes, including increasing teacher salaries and creating a $100 million fund to help bring businesses to places where schools are poor and struggling. Unfortunately, the bill has been largely torn apart in the Senate and won’t be back up for debate until the Legislature resumes in January 2020.

Barton hopes to work with both the governor’s office and the Legislature to find a solution to the education problem in South Carolina. The problems are still awaiting tangible, effective solutions, but the hiring of Barton is a step in the right direction for not only Governor McMaster’s office but the General Assembly as well.

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South Carolina Lawmakers Scheduled To Meet About New Education Reform

South Carolina’s public education rankings are some of the lowest in the nation.

The Post and Courier recently reported that during the 2017-2018 school year, not even one out of two students in grades three to eight scored “meet expectations” or higher on the state’s accountability test in math or ELA.

This is just one of the reasons why S.C. House Speaker, Jay Lucas, proposed a complete overhaul of the South Carolina school system and made it a top legislative priority.

Some of the changes that were included in the new legislation are pay raises for teachers, the elimination of four statewide tests, and a new “Zero to 20” committee which would monitor and recommend ways to modernize the state’s education system.

While many favor the proposed changes, there are some hesitations. Greenville County superintendent Burke Royster expressed his views on the legislation saying that the “Zero to 20” committee is just another unnecessary level of bureaucracy.

Last week, lawmakers reviewed the legislation and proposed thirteen different amendments of which only five were approved. This week, it will go before the full House, and with an overwhelmingly Republican House, the bill should have no problem receiving a positive vote to move forward in the review process.

After it passes through the House, it will go to the Senate where it is likely to meet more hesitation than in the House. Many Senators agree with Royster and are leaning towards eliminating the “Zero to 20” committee altogether.

To read more on the current state of education reform visit The State.