I recently joined Stephen Biddix from WIS10 to discuss the passage of H.5073, which bans grade floors in traditional and public charter schools and reforms credit and content recovery programs.  Check out the story below, or head to the original story to watch my video interview! Columbia, S.C. (WIS10) – Parents across South Carolina could

Governor Henry McMaster recently signed S.454 into law, enacting a plethora of reforms to the public charter school sector.  Originally conceived to address the (then-impending) closure of Limestone University and the affiliated Limestone Charter Association, S.454 has been hotly debated and heavily amended during its journey through the legislative process. Now that the dust has

I was fortunate enough to join ABC 4 News (Charleston) to offer some commentary on H.5073, Rep. Fawn Pedalino’s (R – Clarendon) ban on grade floors in public schools.  The bill has since been signed by Governor McMaster and will be in effect for the 2026-27 school year. COLUMBIA, S.C (WCIV) — South Carolina lawmakers have

Just yesterday, April 28th, the South Carolina Department of Education (“the Department”) released the open enrollment guidelines required by Section 12 of S.62, the bill that re-established the Education Scholarship Trust Fund (ESTF) after it was struck down by the South Carolina Supreme Court in 2024.  Specifically, this section required the Department to develop model guidelines for interdistrict transfers (i.e. transfers between school districts),

Charleston County School District has created quite the stir in the charter school sector over the last couple of days – first by suggesting amendments to a piece of legislation that reforms and strengthens how charter school authorizers function in South Carolina (amendments that would create different requirements and oversight mechanisms for local and statewide

The South Carolina Senate Finance Committee is currently debating this year’s budget.  On Tuesday, April 7, Senator Greg Hembree (R – Horry) introduced a budget proviso that would: Prohibit “unbundlers” in the Education Scholarship Trust Fund (ESTF) program; Grandfather “unbundlers” from this school year into the program, but treats them like Option 1 (district-approved and

Palmetto Promise Director of Education Policy Ryan Dellinger recently joined WIS10 reporter Stephen Biddix virtually to discuss a bill that would opt South Carolina in to the Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact.  To watch their video coverage, check out the original article here. Columbia, S.C. (WIS10): As school districts across South Carolina continue to grapple with

Palmetto Promise Director of Education Policy Ryan Dellinger is quoted in this article, originally published in the South Carolina Daily Gazette, discussing a bill that would opt South Carolina in to the Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact. We submitted written testimony on this bill as well, which you can read here. Columbia, S.C. (South Carolina Daily

Earlier today, I submitted the below written testimony on H. 5309, which would opt South Carolina in to the Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact.  The testimony was submitted in advance of the bill’s hearing before the House Education and Public Works Committee on March 31, 2026. Dear Representative Erickson, Palmetto Promise Institute appreciates the opportunity to

COLUMBIA, SC — Palmetto Promise Institute announced today that a new statewide effort, the South Carolina Universal School Choice Coalition, has officially launched. The Coalition and its individual signatories will focus on advancing a universal school choice framework—one that expands access to high-quality educational opportunities for every student across the state. “Members of this coalition