Members of the S.C. Senate called state Education Superintendent Ellen Weaver on the carpet Thursday over what they say was an unauthorized program that allowed parents of home-schooled children to receive money meant for private school vouchers.
At issue are about 1,200 families who are teaching their children at home, but not participating in one of the three home-school programs recognized by the voucher law. Under Weaver’s interpretation of the statute, they are eligible for funds because the statute only explicitly excludes students in the recognized programs.
Senators, including powerful Majority Leader Shane Massey, R-Edgefield, told Weaver she’d broken trust with the body — an act that would have inevitable consequences.
“If this is the position that the department is going to take, I don’t think we can change it,” Massey said. “But I don’t think it’s a faithful implementation of the law, and I think this is going to affect everything else that happens from here forward.”
For her part, Weaver said she’d done her best to “execute the law faithfully.”
“What the law excludes we must exclude,” she said. “What the law requires we must provide.”
A bill to close the loophole is being sponsored by Sen. Education Committee Chair Greg Hembree, R-Horry. At the often charged hearing, he told Weaver she’d “made [him] a liar” when he told colleagues his original voucher bill didn’t include home-schoolers. It is awaiting action in committee.
Help keep the City Paper free.
No paywalls.
No subscription cost.
Free delivery at 800 locations.
Help support independent journalism by donating today.
