Court won't allow public money to be spent on private schools in South Carolina
The South Carolina Supreme Court has ruled that a 2023 law allowing parents to spend taxpayer money on private schools violates the state constitution
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — South Carolina's law allowing parents to spend taxpayer money on private schools violates the constitution, the state's highest court ruled Wednesday.
The 3-2 ruling prohibits paying tuition or fees with “Education Scholarship Trust Funds," but it does allow parents to use that money for indirect private expenses like tutoring, textbooks and other educational material.
Nearly 3,000 students have already been awarded $1,500 each under the program. The court won't require it be paid back if spent on private school tuition or fees. The case was argued before the high court in March, well before the money was distributed.
The South Carolina law is part of a nationwide movement. Groups that study the programs report that at least 16 states have some form of the vouchers.
