From Classrooms to Committee Rooms

As South Carolina’s legislative session begins, decisions made at the State House will shape what students, teachers, and school leaders experience in classrooms this year and for years to come. Early signals from the General Assembly suggest that public charter schools are firmly on the radar, and the Alliance is already engaged to ensure our schools are part of the conversation from the start.

This week, the Alliance met with senior leadership from the Governor’s Office and the South Carolina Department of Education (SCDE) to discuss shared legislative priorities and our ongoing work to advance funding equity, protect charter school autonomy, and uphold strong accountability. These early conversations matter. Public policy is not abstract, and budgets are not theoretical. They directly affect a school’s ability to recruit and retain great teachers, maintain safe and modern facilities, and provide students with the learning environments they deserve.

The FY27 budget process and early legislative discussions present meaningful opportunities for our public charter schools. While we are still in the early stages, and much will change in the weeks ahead, this is an important time to set expectations and elevate charter priorities.

During the first week of the session, the Alliance joined members of the House Ways and Means Subcommittee as the SCDE presented its budget requests. Teacher pay has rightly drawn significant attention, including proposals to increase the minimum starting teacher salary. For charter schools, however, one of the most consequential proposals may be the creation of an Education Infrastructure Bank (EIB).

SCDE’s request includes $120 million in recurring funding to establish the South Carolina Education Infrastructure Bank. A major shift in how the state approaches long-standing school facility needs. This is particularly important for rural schools and public charter schools, which often lack access to local bond funding and traditional financing options. The EIB is envisioned as a comprehensive, permanent solution, combining:

• Direct, need-based funding
• A revolving loan fund
• Debt guarantee programs
• Facilities-focused technical assistance
  

For charter schools, access to safe, modern facilities is not a “nice to have.” It directly affects enrollment stability, instructional quality, and student safety. The Alliance has long advocated for equitable access to facilities financing, and the EIB reflects growing alignment between policymakers and the realities charter schools face on the ground. The work ahead will be ensuring this proposal is structured in a way that is accessible, effective, and ultimately supported by the General Assembly.

Governor McMaster has also released his Executive Budget, reinforcing these priorities. His recommendations continue to push toward increasing the minimum starting teacher salary to $50,000 and include targeted investments in school safety. Together, these proposals signal momentum, but advocacy will be essential to ensure charter schools benefit equitably as decisions are finalized.

The Alliance will remain actively engaged throughout the session, bringing charter voices into policy discussions and keeping our members informed as the budget and legislation take shape.