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South Carolina Public Charter School District Funding Increased

Submitted by: Clay Eaton on Jul 13, 2011 at 8:07 pm Tagged with: charter, Education, Funding, public Source: South Carolina Public Charter School District

South Carolina State Legislature Addresses Funding Needs for Public Charter School District

The ratified 2011-2012 state budget of the South Carolina General Assembly as signed by Governor Haley provides for an increase in state funding for the South Carolina Public Charter School District. The district is currently one of the lowest-funded public school districts in the nation; however, the new appropriations level will create sustainability for the schools in the district. “This improved funding enables the state to continue to offer public school choice options for all of South Carolina,” says charter school district superintendent Wayne Brazell, Ph. D. “The funding for the schools in the district remains below the state average, but this increase in funding will translate into the schools being able to stay open.”

After only three years of operation the state-wide public charter school district houses eleven schools. Brick and mortar schools located in Charleston, Spartanburg, Rock Hill, Lake City, Bishopville, and Calhoun Falls account for six of these schools with around 1,600 students in total. Another five schools provide online virtual education to over 7,000 K-12 public school students living in every county in the state.

Opening in August 2011 are two new schools authorized by the district. East Point Academy of South Carolina in Cayce is a Chinese-language immersion school for public elementary school students, and SC Whitmore School is a virtual learning high school for at-risk students from all over the state. Both of these schools are currently enrolling students and will benefit from the funding increase.

Most public charter schools in South Carolina are authorized by local school districts. Those locally authorized public charter schools are not affected by the appropriations change because they receive money through a local school district. Schools in the state-wide charter school district do not receive any local funding. When a student enrolls in a public charter school in the state-wide district, the local money for that student remains in the local district.

Like traditional public schools, charter schools do not charge tuition, and charter schools must address the entire state curriculum for all grade levels offered. Students are required to meet all state graduation requirements, and the schools are required to administer all state standardized testing, which is conducted live under monitored conditions. All public charter schools are subject to state laws regarding professional licensure for school staff. However, public charter schools differ from traditional public schools in several ways. The schools are supervised by a governing board that includes parents and other members of the community who are ultimately responsible for the operations and performance of the school. The schools can be closed for failure to achieve academic goals. Unlike a magnet school, public charter schools are open to all students who want to attend. The only enrollment limitation is the size of the facility for brick and mortar schools and the funding ceiling from the state for both brick and mortar schools and online schools.

For more information about the South Carolina Public Charter School District, please access the district web site at www.sccharter.org or call the district office at (803) 734-8322.

Clay Eaton