South Carolina Senate, House Finalize K-12 Voucher Compromise

South Carolina's House and Senate education leaders have reached a significant compromise to expand school choice by reinstating and broadening a private school voucher program previously halted by the state Supreme Court. The agreement would allow up to 15,000 K-12 students to receive $7,500 scholarships for private school tuition, gradually raising household income eligibility from 300% to 500% of federal poverty guidelines. The proposal removes the prior-year public school attendance requirement, making existing private school students eligible and increasing accessibility for middle- and working-class families. Oversight would be strengthened by installing a third-party trustee, and funding could come from taxpayer dollars or state Lottery funds. While Republican leaders hailed the compromise as a victory for education freedom, some Democrats and a few Republicans expressed concerns about higher-income families benefiting most from the expansion. The measure is expected to pass despite some partisan disagreement over its scope and impact.