For the first time in years, the House Ways and Means Committee this week voted to increase the amount of per-pupil funding as part of its K-12 education budget package.
Backing the measure was Gov. Nikki Haley, who has championed several new education expenditures in recent years, including enhanced reading programs in the lower grades.
It should be noted, though, that the per-pupil amount would only grow from about $1,900 per student to $2,200. That amount is still lower than what is required by law, about $2,700 per students.
In recent years, legislators have made it a regular habit to write special one-year budget amendments, called provisos, that allow them to annually skirt more fully funding education.
In the proposed committee budget, members also included some money through bonded borrowing for school infrastructure improvements. The more robust funding still has to survive House debate and approval of the Senate and governor.
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