South Carolina Legislative Outlook, 2007
Choice measures have been a major issue in the legislature for the past several years and will likely return this year in some form. In November, however, voters narrowly elected Jim Rex (D) over strong choice/voucher candidate Karen Floyd who had extensive out-of-state financial support. Legislation has been filed this year to establish an open enrollment choice program in public schools; in the past Governor Mark Sanford (R), who was re-elected in November, has been a champion of privatization efforts. Legislation is also filed to establish virtual schools and to require the state to provide school bus transportation for any students who lives within a mile and a half of the school when walking would produce a risk to student safety. There is a lot of talk in South Carolina about district consolidation to the county-wide level that could see legislative action. Governor Sanford has proposed ending the state’s program of providing bonus pay to National Board certified teachers and replacing it with block grants to local districts for teacher pay incentive plans. After a court ruled in December 2005 that the state was spending too little on early childhood education, the legislature is likely to expand the pilot 4-K program they implemented last year for children in plaintiff districts.