By Lindsay Street, Statehouse correspondent | Can South Carolina improve education by altering how it provides state dollars for local public education?
That’s the question that has prompted a study of education funding that was released this week as well as the creation of a new Senate special committee that will look at possible policy changes on how the state distributes money to school districts.
The S.C. Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office released a long-awaited report Thursday that detailed how the state funds public education through myriad avenues. It’s the second report spurred by Gov. Henry McMaster, Senate President Harvey Peeler and House Speaker Jay Lucas, who asked the RFA to study the issue.
The report found 78.5 percent of spending in South Carolina classrooms goes directly to instruction in the classroom. In 2019-2020, the per-pupil cost was tabulated at $14,383, a 16 percent increase in the last four years. About $1,200 of that money comes from the federal government. The remainder is split nearly 50-50 — $6,606 from the state and $6,550 from local governments.
The report also detailed four way the state could fund districts differently:
- Adjusting for districts receiving less state funds. Option 1 would provide state support of 70 percent of the current education funding model and then would allow for the state to use the remainder to help smaller districts receive more state funds.
- Per pupil. Option 2 would modify the funding allocation by providing state funding of $3,000 per pupil to every district totaling $2,163.3 million.
- Removing costs. Option 3 would remove facilities costs and property tax relief funding from the model, which would mean school districts would fund facility costs solely from local taxes raised. Under this model, the state would foot 66.5 percent of education funding costs, which don’t include facilities expenses.
- 80 percent. Under Option 4, the state would provide funding for four-fifths of the cost of instruction and facilities. District services — basically district expenses outside classroom instruction, facilities and transportation — are funded entirely by each local district.
Earlier this week, RFA Executive Director Frank Water said the report would “try to avoid policy recommendations.”
New committee gets to work
S.C. Senate Education Chairman Greg Hembree, R-Horry, launched his new committee last week to study and evaluate policy changes for funding education.
“The Fiscal Affairs Office does a great job taking a piece of policy the General Assembly might be considering or pass and quantifying what the policy would cost. That’s their role and what they are really good at,” Hembree told Statehouse Report. “(Setting policy is) a function of the General Assembly.”
Hembree said the committee will be “a couple-year project” in addressing funding education in South Carolina.
“It’s not like the formula is woefully broken. Is it in need of adjustment? Yes,” Hembree said. He said 100-plus funding lines and the spending of more than $14,400 per pupil are “not working so good.”
In other S.C. news:
SCforEd convenes second caucus Oct. 5. The grassroots education advocacy group SCforEd will meet 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 5 at the University of South Carolina in Columbia to discuss political action in the coming year. Learn more.
State energy plan to be discussed Oct. 8. The State Regulation of Public Utilities Review Committee will meet 10 a.m. Oct. 8 in room 207 of the Gressette building at the Statehouse. On the agenda: the State Energy Office’s state energy plan; discussion of Public Service Commission candidates and attendance at political gatherings; and annual reviews of the Public Service Commission and the Office of Regulatory Staff agency. Read the agenda.
Rural Women’s Summit set for Oct. 27-29 in Greenville. The summit is designed for rural leaders and advocates of women’s leadership roles and their barriers in rural America. Learn more.
S.C. GOP gets served lawsuit over no presidential primary. Former Republican congressman Bob Inglis has sued the South Carolina Republican Party over its decision not to hold a presidential preference primary in 2020 — a possibility floated to Statehouse Report by Republican presidential hopeful Mark Sanford last month.
State to look at use-of-force via task force. The Charleston City Paper looked at a state task force working out rules to guide law enforcement officers on how to employ the use of force. Read the article here.
The Greenville News released its series this week on use-of-force among South Carolina law enforcement. Click here to read that series.
Oremus heads to Columbia. Republican Melissa Oremus of Aiken has won the special election to House District 84, replacing Ronnie Young, who died earlier this year. Read more.
2020 candidate calendar
Throughout the campaign season, we are working to keep South Carolina informed of candidate events in the state. Have an event you want us to know about? Email us at 2020news@statehousereport.com.
Blue Jamboree. Thousands are expected to attend the all-day Oct. 5 Blue Jamboree held by the Charleston County Democratic Party at The Bend, 3775 Azalea Drive, in North Charleston. Sponsors of the event include these presidential candidates: Joe Biden, Pete Buttigieg, Tulsi Gabbard, Kamala Harris, Elizabeth Warren, Tom Steyer, Cory Booker, Andrew Yang, Michael Bennet and Julian Castro. Some of them will send surrogates to stand in for them, but several will attend. Tickets are $20.
Steyer visits Charleston area. Businessman Tom Steyer will attend several events in the Charleston area this weekend. Among the Oct. 5 events: 10:45 a.m. walking tour with Elder Johnson in North Charleston, and a gun violence summit 6 p.m. at Mount Moriah Missionary Baptist Church in North Charleston.
Harris visits for town hall in Beaufort County. California Sen. Kamala Harris will attend a Beaufort County town hall 5 p.m. Oct. 5. Learn more here.
Bullock makes stop in Columbia. Democratic Montana Gov. Steve Bullock will meet with Carol and Don Fowler of Columbia 1 p.m. Oct. 6. To RSVP, contact Mike Mendoza at Mendoza@SteveBullock.com or 949-735-7515.
Bennet to attend Pints and Politics Oct. 6. U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet, D-Colorado, will speak at The Post and Courier’s political event noon Oct. 6 at Palmetto Brewing Co. in Charleston. Learn more.
Gabbard in Charleston Oct. 5-6. On Oct. 5, U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, D-Hawaii, will attend a conversation with the candidates 6:30 p.m. at Mount Moriah Missionary Baptist Church in North Charleston. She will return to the church 9 a.m. Oct. 6 for services. Then, she will attend The Post and Courier’s Pints and Politics 2:30 p.m. Oct. 6 at Palmetto Brewing Co. in Charleston. Learn more. Conversations with Candidates
Williamson returns to Charleston area Oct. 8. Businesswoman and author Marianne Williamson will attend The Post and Courier’s Pints and Politics 5 p.m. Oct. 8 at Palmetto Brewing Co. in Charleston. Learn more.
Warren attends Clyburn town hall Oct. 9. Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren will attend a town hall 6 p.m. Oct. 9 at the Dr. Barbara A. Vaughan Fine Arts Center Recital Hall in Orangeburg. The event is hosted by House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn of South Carolina. The event is free but RSVPs requested.
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