A Constitutional Crackdown: SC's ESTF Ruled Unconstitutional

The Supreme Court of South Carolina has dealt a major blow to the Education Scholarship Trust Fund (ESTF) program, ruling it unconstitutional for using public money to fund private school education. The ESTF, signed into law by Governor Henry McMaster in May 2023, allowed qualifying parents to apply for scholarships worth $6,000 per student to fund their child's education. A parent who chooses to use a scholarship to pay their child's private school tuition is undoubtedly using public funds to provide a direct benefit to the private school.

The court has sent a powerful message about the importance of upholding the constitution. But what if this assumption is wrong? What if there are alternative solutions that could address the needs of families seeking educational options? For now, the ESTF remains unconstitutional. But the conversation is far from over. Will the state find a way to reconcile its commitment to public education with the desire for parental choice?

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