Advocacy

A trusted voice for charter schools, students and families

We advocate for the best interests and common goals of students, families, and educators at the state legislature by introducing and supporting favorable policy that protects the autonomy and flexibility of charter schools, while fighting against harmful legislation.

Advocacy Focus

Whether advancing policy in Columbia or improving awareness in each community, our desire is for every child to have access to transformative, high-quality public charter schools that includes:

Fairness in Funding

Ensure funding equity for public charter school students at the federal, state, and local levels.

Excellence in Education

Improve educational outcomes for students enrolled in South Carolina public charter schools.

Accountable Autonomy

Protect charter school flexibility and autonomy while holding schools accountable for student achievement, fiscal responsibility, and effective governance.

Government Advocacy

Advancing legislation that benefits public charter schools

Since 2001, we have played a pivotal role in shaping charter school policy in the state, helping advance legislation that expands access, autonomy, and accountability for public charter schools.

Each year, the PCSASC staff and board of directors establish our legislative and policy priorities through a focused review process. These priorities are organized into three key areas—lead, support, and monitor—allowing us to provide targeted resources and advocacy based on each issue’s significance to the charter school community.

We continue to push for legislation that strengthens South Carolina’s charter school law by clarifying roles, increasing transparency, and improving accountability for charter schools and authorizers.
Learn about this year's legislative priorities

Funding Parity and Equity Advancement

We support legislation and policies that position charter schools on the same level as their counterparts within the education system.

  • Increased recurring funding for charter schools, especially those in the statewide district or sponsored by an Institute of Higher Education.
  • Categorical state funding that includes technology, transportation, and teacher staffing.

Flexibility with Accountability

We support results-based accountability while protecting the autonomy of charter schools, enabling them to innovate and operate independently.

  • Expanded curriculum options
  • Waivers from burdensome regulations
  • Designing personalized learning models
  • Managing staff recruitment and professional development

Find your legislator.

SC Charter History

Our legislative wins and ongoing efforts reflect our continued effort to level the playing field, increase access, and ensure quality and innovation in public charter education. The following history highlights provide a high-level overview of our advocacy and support for charter schools.

1996

Enactment of the SC Charter Schools Act of 1996

1997

First Charter School Opened

2001

South Carolina Charter Alliance Founded

2006

Act 274
Creation of the South Carolina Public Charter School District

2008

Act 239
Priority enrollment and flexibility in teacher certification

2011

10K students

2012

Act 164
Legislation introduced a wide range of updates and provisions to strengthen and expand charter school operations.

2013

Act 29
Establishes the operations of charter schools located on military bases

2016

Act 219
Allows charter schools to be designated as Alternative Education Campuses

2017

Charter Institute at Erskine established as the state's first IHE authorizer for charter schools.

2018

30k Students

2021

SC adopts new K-12 funding formula permanently funding charter schools

2024

50K students

2025

Act 47
Active‑duty military dependents included as a charter school enrollment preference.

2026

Voorhees University Charter Institute of Learning established as the country's first HBCU authorizer for charter schools in SC.

Act 123 - Significant legislative updates and modernizes the SC Charter School Act adding compliance and accountability measures.
View our 2027-2030 Strategic Plan

Advocate for your school

We can’t do this alone.

Charter schools rely on power perspectives from within the charter school community to ensure policies and legislation that result in better choices, equitable funding, and charter-friendly reforms to improve public education across South Carolina.

By developing relationships with your local state and federal representatives, you can significantly make a difference for charter schools in South Carolina. Your school illustrates the ability of charters to provide quality choice options for families through innovation and accountability. However, charters still face financial, policy, and political obstacles. Lawmakers need to hear your real-world experiences firsthand.
Let us help you organize a legislator visit at your school

Let us help you organize a legislator visit at your school

Invite your legislator to visit your school for things like ribbon-cutting ceremonies, back-to-school events, or 100-day school celebrations, or graduations.

Tips for engaging your elected officials:

Here are a few simple ways you can regularly engage your elected officials so they will better understand charter schools.
  • Add your legislator to your school contact list for newsletters, events announcements, and press releases.
  • Follow your legislators on social media.
  • Invite your legislator to visit your school for things like ribbon-cutting ceremonies, back-to-school events, or 100-day school celebrations, or graduations.
  • Organize a group of students for a field trip to the State Capitol.

Join the fight for a brighter future.

Sign up here to stay informed about the latest SC charter school news — and the best ways to advocate on behalf of our students.