Legislative UpdateDecember 6, 2011

Education Funding Reform

HighlightsHighlightsComprehensive education funding reform plan – South

Carolina Education Finance Restructuring Act (EFRA)Organizations involved: SCSBA, SCASA, SCASBO, Childs &

Halligan-P.A., Dr. Harry MileyMaintains state and local funding partnership

State levies uniform millage rate of 100 mills Existing state revenues rolled up into fewer funds Funds allocated to districts on per pupil basis known as Base

Student Funding (BSF), estimated to be $5,232 in 2012 Local districts allowed to levy local millage for district operations

and facility needs up to 8% of assessed value of taxable property

Upcoming Event

January 10, 2012January 10, 2012SCSBA’s funding proposal: S.C. Education Finance SCSBA’s funding proposal: S.C. Education Finance Restructing Act (EFRA)Restructing Act (EFRA)

Scott Price, SCSBA General Council

Vouchers / Tuition Tax Credits (S.414)

HighlightsHighlights Dollar for dollar state income tax credit for tuition paid for students

who transfer from public to private schools Dollar for dollar state income tax credit for tuition paid for students

who are already enrolled in private school Reimbursement of expenses ($1,000) for home schooling of students Imposes additional student assessment and reporting requirements

for private schools and state organizations

South Carolina School Boards Association PositionSouth Carolina School Boards Association Position Opposes state or federally-mandated efforts to directly or indirectly

subsidize private, religious, or home schools with public funds

StatusStatus House Bill defeated in 2011 Same Bill resides in Senate Education Committee

Vouchers / Tuition Tax Credits (S.414)

What Can Our Board Do?What Can Our Board Do?Communicate to legislative delegation, staff, parents, and

community provisions of billPass Board resolution in oposition to legislationWrite opinion columns, letters to editor, etc. in opposition

to legislation

South Carolina Public Schools are Succeeding!

Larger percentages of SC students passed high school End-Of-course (EOC) exams, with the achievement gap narrowing in most areas. Algebra 1 showed biggest improvement, where A to C grades increased from 55.3% in 2009 to 61.3% in 2010.

SC is one of only a few states that have increased high school seniors’s scores on the ACT over the past five years despite dranmatically greater numbers of test-takers.

SC Class of 2011 earned more than $960 million in college scholarships.