More information
Funding:
As S.935 is currently written, some districts will lose more funding than they actually receive from the State because funding to districts varies. S.935 must be amended so that the ESA program doesn’t reduce funds for any district, weakening district public schools.
Accountability:
As S.935 is currently written, ESA students in private schools would not be required to take the same assessments as students under the state accountability system, so meaningful evaluation of the ESA program would not be possible.
The Subcommittee changed the original bill to require state accountability tests, which would allow meaningful comparisons to public school settings. The Full Committee reverted to the original proposal for national norm-referenced tests, disregarding Sen. Shane Massey's argument that substituting a national norm-referenced test would not provide parents or the public with adequate information for informed comparison between educational setttings.
Nationally marketed norm-referenced tests are not constructed to measure the South Carolina curriculum standards. The same forms of norm-referenced tests are used year after year, and test-preparation materials that are essentially alternate forms of the test are frequently available for purchase.
Accessibility:
As S.935 is currently written, private schools could deny admission to students with an ESA because of gender, sexual orientation, disability status, or academic aptitude — unlike public schools.
Private and parochial schools can refuse to admit students who have handicapping conditions, students who need remedial instruction, or students they choose to reject because of other criteria, such as gender or sexual orientation.
Schools that receive public funds should not be allowed to deny admission to students because of gender, sexual orientation, disability status, or academic aptitude.
