South Carolina’s school choice program faced a crushing setback when the state’s Supreme Court ruled it unconstitutional after hundreds of students had already started classes at new schools. However, a grassroots response has emerged to help families affected by the ruling and to renew legislative efforts to restore educational freedom in the state.
On May 4, 2023, Gov. Henry McMaster signed into law South Carolina’s first ever Education Scholarship Account program—a bold initiative to provide low-income families with access to the educational options they desperately needed. For thousands of students, this was more than a policy win—it was a lifeline.
In the first year, up to 5,000 students would finally have the opportunity to learn in an environment where they could thrive, free from the limitations of a one-size-fits-all system.
Then came the blow.
In…
