S.C. IN FOREFRONT OF NATIONAL DEBATE AS SANFORD PUSHES TUITION TAX CREDIT
WAR OF IDEAS ESCALATES
The State - By Claudia Smith Brinson [1/3/2005]

"Democracy. Accountability. Public money for public schools, say the fans of public schools.

Competition. The free market. Choice, say the fans of tuition tax credits.

Gear up for a war of words and ideas -- and ideologies. South Carolina plays a starring role this year in the national debate about who goes to which school: public, charter, private, independent, home or religious schools.

We'll watch as Gov. Mark Sanford, conservative foundations and private-school parents arm-wrestle for the higher ground with public-school teachers, administrators and parents. At issue is Put Parents in Charge, a revamping of last year's legislation that once again proposes tuition tax credits, likely around $3,000 a child.

The legislation intends to create greater access to private, independent and church schools by making them more affordable for students already attending or students aspiring to attend.

Of course, a tax credit that reduces the amount someone pays in taxes also reduces the amount a state collects in revenue. And a tax credit that encourages use of private schools likely drains support for public schools.

So a state with a 12-year-old school-funding lawsuit, a state that has not revised its funding formula since 1977 and is not meeting its own full-funding requirements has a lot to talk about.

Conversely, parents and students in a state where one in four children are poor, where two in five are not ready for first grade, where the high-school dropout rate is among the nation's worst have a lot to worry about.

So this is a fight about money and religion and kids and schools. So this is a fight that is loaded.

SCHOOL CHOICE

The basic argument behind "choice" goes this way: Because students are assigned to public schools, because public school quality varies widely, because private schools are not affordable for all, only the rich have choices.

Said Stephen Gilchrist:, "If you're white and rich, you have choice. If you're black and poor, you don't have choice. It's important to have options to educate children."

Gilchrist is president of the S.C. Center for Community and Grassroots Alternatives, an organization whose prime goals are education and economic alternatives for African-Americans.

Most often, the word "choice" is used to mean selecting private, independent or home schooling over a public school, not switching public schools.

"I'm involved with education, and a part of that is school choice," Sheri Few said. A Lugoff mother of three teens in public school, Few is co-founder and president of S.C. Parents Involved in Education.

"I support school choice because I think every parent has the right to do best for the children," Few said. "So, if children are not excelling and may need a different education, they could be removed from public education and put in a private school with more attention and values-based education."

Choice gives "parents the ultimate decision to send children to the school that best suits their needs," Denver Merrill said.

Merrill is communications director for South Carolinians for Responsible Government. The 18-month-old nonprofit is focused on tuition tax credits. Its overarching goal, supported by about 1,000 donors, is reducing government.

FOCUS ON S.C.

Free-market theorists love this issue, hence the many conservative foundations -- here and elsewhere -- involved.

During the 2004 elections, the Michigan-based All Children Matter paid for radio ads and mailers here that promoted candidates supporting tuition tax credits.

"Our current focus is in South Carolina," says the Web site home page for LEAD Foundation in Washington, D.C. LEAD stands for the Legislative Education Action Drive, a conservative group supporting tuition tax credits.

Several factors turned LEAD's attention south, said Eric O'Keefe, president of both. First was Sanford's gubernatorial campaign."School choice became an issue, and it didn't seem to hurt him" during the campaign, O'Keefe said.

"The more we saw, the more we liked," O'Keefe added. That included a conservative political climate, increased state spending on public education, a sense that results were disappointing and LEAD's own desire "to go somewhere school choice would be a significant topic."

O'Keefe cited an added lure, an S.C. constitutional amendment in 1973 that eliminated language prohibiting indirect aid to private colleges or universities, including those associated with a religion.

"We've had attorneys look this over very carefully," O'Keefe said. "We're confident Put Parents in Charge is consistent with the state Constitution and the U.S. Constitution," whose Establishment Clause separates church and state.

Ed McMullen finds outside interest all to the good: "It's an opportunity for private philanthropy. There's a national network of money that could come into South Carolina." McMullen is president of the S.C. Policy Council Education Foundation, a conservative, public-policy nonprofit in Columbia.

WHO'S IN CHARGE?

Initially, vouchers were the mode of choice. But vouchers are government funds, and lawsuits followed.

"We oppose vouchers. They're bad public policy," McMullen said. He calls them "horribly entangled," saying government then has a role in and legal access to independent schools.

You could argue a tuition tax credit uses public money, since it affects tax liability and reduces state revenue.

Or you could argue, "The tax credit stays in your pocket. It's your money, out of your pocket and straight to the school," as E. Ashley Landess does. She is vice president for public affairs at the Policy Council.

Tuition tax credits are "a cleaner way," Landess said.

"You don't want government having a say-so," Merrill said. "Parents should be in charge of how and where children are educated."

This is another part of the argument: parents do not have enough control over children's education in public schools.

For Few, being in charge is about content. "I work very hard with my children to supplement what they learn in public schools. What they are taught often is contrary to what their father and I believe."

She cited sex education: "I have had to exclude my children." She objects to teaching evolution without mention of the "theory of intelligent design." She worries about history courses where "quite a bit is left out," such as constitutional amendments limiting federal government.

Lori Hatcher teaches her two daughters at home in Columbia. She noted, "Typically, 10 to 15 years ago, religion was the primary motivation. Many still home school because they want God and religion in their children's education.

"To teach government and leave God out is not an education. We believe we didn't crawl out of a pond; we believe God created us. So I feel privileged to educate my children about God."

Robert E. Lee Academy in Lee County is among the state's larger and less expensive independent schools: 740 students, 3-year-olds through 12th grade, 13 of the students minorities; bus pickup points in Lamar, Hartsville and Timmonsville; tuition of $2,500 from kindergarten on.

"Parents are looking for a place their children can get a good education in a safe environment," said Virginia Stokes. She is head of school and a retired public-school administrator.

An expansion -- eight more classrooms, 150 more students -- is on the wish list. But Stokes has "mixed feelings and questions" about tuition tax credits.

Most of all, she said, "I see it as really hurting public schools. Right here, in Lee County, they struggle. Lee County initiated the school-funding suit. I think parents might abandon public schools."

Samantha Joyner sends two daughters to Lee. "I don't know if I would trust the public school system," she said. A nurse, Joyner works in Darlington County.

Her parents sent her to Lee, she believes, to avoid desegregation. She sends her daughters because "I think the public schools are without discipline; they aren't a good learning environment."

EFFECTS ON PUBLIC EDUCATION

Make "The Right Choice," retort public school supporters.

"The Right Choice: Our S.C. Public Schools" is the call to arms for such education organizations as the S.C. School Boards Association, the S.C Association of School Administrators and the S.C. Congress of Parents and Teachers.

State law permits parents to choose a public school, to transfer children to another school or school district, although they must ask permission from school boards and might be charged tuition. No Child Left Behind, a federal law, permits children to transfer from schools that do not meet standards to schools that do.

"Within public school systems there should be choice; choice is not the issue," said Paul Krohne, executive director of the S.C. School Boards Association. "The issue is should choice include parents going to nonpublic schools with public funds."

Chuck Saylor focuses there, too. "They found out voucher' was a dirty word, so they're putting out new words," Saylor said. He owns a Greenville construction firm and is president of the state PTA.

"If it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it is a duck.

"The whole fact of the matter, tuition tax credit or voucher, is you're taking public money out of the public schools, especially after public money has been lost in state budget cuts."

Inez Tenenbaum, state superintendent of education, expressed dismay. "When all is said and done, it's better to fund public education."

Cindy Massaro wants to know who really benefits. "The tax credit is for the wealthy, and it sucks money out of the public schools," she said. Massaro is the mother of four children, three at Rosewood Elementary in Columbia, another starting in 2005.

"It won't come close to covering tuition and all the expenses, and in rural areas there aren't going to be private schools. I think for our neediest kids it would take opportunity away from them.

"We're thrilled with our public schools," Massaro added. "But our schools aren't good by accident. People work to make them good, and if you take money and resources away, we will have problems."

Jodie Spencer teaches at a public school she attended, Hand Middle School. "I can't believe anyone would support vouchers who cares about public schools," she said.

Public schools get less and less funding and poor schools in poor areas get poorer, she said. Private schools become segregated by religion and race "because people feel more comfortable sending children to schools with people like them."

"In Richland 1, you meet people from diverse backgrounds and learn in a diverse background. It really does impact your education, and even if it doesn't make you well-rounded, at least you have a chance to be exposed and learn more."

ACCOUNTABILITY AN ISSUE

Accountability is the crown jewel of South Carolina's public- school legislation. Public school defenders say if public money is used for private education, accountability must apply. Then they ask how, since independent schools are by nature averse to government regulations.

Independent, private and religious schools test students in a variety of ways and do not use PACT. Unlike public schools, they can, and do, refuse to accept children who are not at grade level or have discipline problems.

Public schools also must serve children with mental, emotional or physical disabilities. Most private schools are not equipped to do so and choose not to do so. And poor and disabled children cost more to educate.

So an apple-to-apple comparison seems unlikely.

"We track the quality of education and student progress," Tenenbaum said. "We know the progress of every child; we know how every child performs compared to national standards. All children must be tested, and we have school report cards.

"There's no way to make the same judgments about private schools."

You can find a what-is-America aspect to this debate, and public school supporters are not shy about evoking that.

"What about the whole idea of enticing people to leave the public school system, which is the foundation of democracy in America?" asked Molly Spearman. She is executive director of the S.C. Association of School Administrators.

"That's my philosophical objection."

Krohne calls this "the issue nobody is talking about."

Tuition tax credits would allow "a class of citizens to pay less for the public school system because they aren't using the public school system. That is a huge public policy debate," Krohne said.

"Should we say the same about the fire department? Because I didn't have a fire last year I don't pay taxes for the fire department?"

Most of all, for public school advocates there is a sense of loss.

Gov. Sanford bicycled the weekend of an education march. He flew to Milwaukee to admire a voucher program during final arguments in the school-funding suit.

"There are so many ways the governor could be constructive," Tenenbaum said. "Fifty percent of our children qualify for free and reduced-price lunch; these children need early childhood education. That is something he could focus on and help us help them."

Said Krohne: "This would divert attention. It would stop momentum, and that would be a true tragedy."

Bob Staton agrees. "It's a distraction, in my opinion, and people will walk away, saying, What have you done for education? Created a free market.'" Staton is chairman of the Education Oversight Committee, which watches over and reports on accountability.

"I think education is a responsibility, not a commodity," Staton said. "Everybody looks for the silver-bullet answer for education, and there isn't one."


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