On July 20, 2020 Governor Henry McMaster announced the SAFE Grants program, a lifeline for families struggling to deal with the impacts of COVID on their students’ K-12 education.
On October 7, the South Carolina Supreme Court ruled against the program, in a decision that ignored U.S. Supreme Court precedent and almost 50 years of popular, nearly identical South Carolina initiatives in pre-K and higher education.
On October 22, Governor McMaster, joined by the U.S. Department of Justice, petitioned the South Carolina Supreme Court to rehear the case, based on important facts their decision misconstrued. That petition was rejected, denying the help that SAFE Grants would have meant to students who are struggling and families that are hurting.
How do we know? Because parents across the state are finding their voices like never before. In fact, over 550 of them shared their stories with us.
Common struggles emerged: children having to leave their school because of COVID’s impact on their families budget; single parents trying to work and teach full-time; students with special needs not able to be served in a virtual environment.
Every story is a real student, facing real obstacles that a SAFE Grant could help them meet. That is why our fight isn’t finished until every child in the Palmetto State has the opportunity to access an education that equips them to meet their full potential.
In fact, South Carolina’s Parent Power Movement is just getting started…because parents are ready to stand up and fight for their children’s future.
And here at My SC Education, we are committed to partner with parents every step of the way! Our goal is to make it easy for you to:
- Search for education options in your area in our one-of-a-kind interactive database.
- Explore the different types of education options in South Carolina and learn how they have empowered families just like yours.
- Connect with other parents across the state and amplify your voice by joining the Parent Power Movement Facebook group.
We’ll also keep you in-the-know on vital education-related news and resources for parents through regular email updates, interactive online events, and on our Facebook page. You are committed to your children’s future. We’re committed to double down on our fight to help you get them the education opportunity they need.
Because we’re confident that if we work together, Parent Power will make all the difference!