Current Issues:
Updated Student Costs
Education Funding Resources
Position:
LWVSC supports public state-supported education at all levels that is high quality, effective, equitable, inclusive, fully funded, and accountable.
GOVERNANCE
Early Childhood (EC) through grade 12
- An inclusive State Board of Education, appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the General Assembly, to include two members from each Congressional district. At least three appointees must be teachers, one each from the elementary, middle, and high school levels
- Gubernatorial appointment of the State Superintendent of Education, with the advice and consent of the General Assembly. The appointee must have substantial administrative and/or teaching experience in P K-12 public education.
- Non-partisan election of local board of education members for four-year terms.
- Formulation and publication of educational policy and goals by state and local boards as a basis for selection and evaluation of content, methods, and organizational patterns reflecting these goals and encouraging innovation and experimentation.
- Consolidation of services and programs of small schools and consolidation of small school districts when educationally feasible.
- Changes in the structures of the school board and/or consolidating, splitting, or redrawing school district lines should be subject to a referendum by the voters in the affected school district(s).
Post-Secondary
Adult Education
FUNDING
All Levels (Early Childhood - 12, Post-Secondary)
Early Childhood - 12
Post-Secondary
20. Indexing of in-state tuition based on the actual cost of education, the state bearing 80% of the cost and the student 20% at all institutions, while allowing individual institutions to set out-of-state tuition at 200% or more of in-state tuition and fees.
Adult Education
Effective Education
Early Childhood – 12
23. The provisions of the Education Finance Act (EFA) and the Education Improvement Act (EIA) which provide compulsory (K - 12), effective, equitable, inclusive, and accountable education to all students.
24. Effective partnerships between schools and parents, the community, and business.
25. Ample variation in curriculum to meet individual educational needs of all students.
26. Continued offering of full-day kindergarten, expansion of full-day 4-K to all areas of the state, and expansion of pre-school with small class size, low pupil-teacher ratio, aides and developmentally appropriate programs, and with parental choice of full day or half-day.
27. Offering to educators a wide variety of support before and during evaluation.
28. Elimination of corporal punishment, with the promotion of more effective and positive methods of discipline.
29. Early identification of students who are at risk for dropping out of school.
30. Recognizing that the teacher is the most important school-based component of academic achievement, school districts should implement a comprehensive teacher evaluation. The fair and comprehensive evaluation system should occur regularly and be a clearly communicated process: The system should include the following:
Post-Secondary
31.The establishment and expansion of research programs to include those having a direct, positive impact on economic development, education, health, or welfare in this state.
Adult Education
32.Availability of a variety of adult education programs and classes (such as literacy, English as a second language, pre-GED and GED preparation, high school diploma, computer literacy, career readiness), as well as online and virtual learning programs, to meet respective needs of South Carolina’s diverse population.
33. Local adult education partnerships with higher education and technical education institutions, as well as businesses, community organizations, and other government entities to assist in carrying out the mission of adult education.
34. Available child development facilities and care for children of adult education parents while they are attending adult education classes.
35. Available, affordable transportation assistance to/from adult education sites for adult education students.
36. Access to adult education classes in a wide variety of community locations, including State Department of Corrections facilities, city and county jails, vocational rehabilitation centers, and One-Stop Centers.
All levels (EC - 12, Post-Secondary, Adult Education)
37. Effective administration, leadership, and management, with strict quality controls.
Public Charter Schools
38. Constitutionality: Charter Schools should be under the control of publicly elected or publicly appointed school officials. They may receive public funding only if they meet constitutional requirements to qualify as public schools. They must be non-religious and non-sectarian in programs, admissions policies, and employment practices.
39. Equal Access: Charter Schools must maintain racial and ethnic balance among students unless imbalances are justified by a special program. They must not practice discrimination based on disability, race, creed, color, gender, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, need for special education, or economic status. Free transportation must be provided within the territorial jurisdiction of the Charter School. There should be no requirements for parental participation or support which might limit access for minority or disadvantaged students.
40. Accountability: Charter Schools must be accountable in terms of stated learning objectives, methods of assessment, and reporting of assessment results. They must regularly report to the public on the use of funds. The South Carolina Public Charter School District must be the approving body for charter school applications but there should be an appeals process for a denied or revoked Charter School application.
41. Civics Education: The League supports comprehensive civics education in middle and high school developed through the state and local review and development process for social studies curricula
Background/Action:
- Adult Education positions were studied in 2005-2007 and adopted in 2007.
- Item #6 under GOVERNANCE is based on a state LWV study of school district structure and governance and was adopted at convention in 2011.
- Item #30 under Effective Education is the result of consensus based on a state-wide LWV study of evaluation and retention of effective teachers in public schools in SC and was adopted at the 2013 state convention.
- In 2015 item #2 was amended to provide for the public election of the Secretary of Education. The title “Charter Schools” was amended to read “Public Charter Schools.
- In 2015, item #40 was amended to refer to the South Carolina Public Charter School District.
- In 2017, item #2 was amended to provide for the appointment of the Secretary of Education and to describe minimum qualifications for the position.
- In 2017, item #19 was amended to specify forms of financial assistance for private schools not supported by the League.
- At the 2021 state convention Item #1 was amended to have the State Board of Education appointed solely by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate. Item #41 was also added to support comprehensive civics education in schools.