Tell the Senate to vote YES on the new school choice program!

Parents have a God-given right to determine the best education method for their children, one that most serves their unique needs. As the Catechism of the Catholic Church states, “Parents have the first responsibility for the education of their children” (2223).

The Catholic Conference is overjoyed at this news and the Senate Education committee’s prompt action. We thank the members of the committee who support this legislation, especially Sen. Greg Hembree, chairman and the bill’s sponsor. We urge the legislature to continue to work diligently on passing this bill, especially since many families are depending on state funds to keep their students at their preferred schools.

Please take action now by clicking below to encourage your senator to vote YES on this bill and restore parental choice in education today!

SC2025-2026S 62

AN ACT TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 59-8-110, RELATING TO DEFINITIONS CONCERNING THE EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIP TRUST FUND, SO AS TO REVISE DEFINITIONS; BY AMENDING SECTION 59-8-115, RELATING TO SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION CRITERIA AND PROCEDURES, SO AS PROVIDE REQUIREMENTS CONCERNING PRIORITY AND GENERAL APPLICATIONS, TO PROVIDE CERTAIN EXEMPTION ACKNOWLEDGEMENT REQUIREMENTS FOR NONPUBLIC EDUCATION SERVICE PROVIDERS, AMONG OTHER THINGS; BY AMENDING SECTION 59-8-120, RELATING TO THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIP TRUST FUND, SO AS TO RECHARACTERIZE ITS CORPUS AND REVISE ITS USAGES, TO ESTABLISH A TRUSTEE APPOINTMENT FOR THE FUND AND TO PROVIDE THE QUALIFICATIONS AND DUTIES OF THE TRUSTEE, AND TO ESTABLISH SCHOLARSHIP ALLOCATION AMOUNTS AND ...

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Act No. 11

legislature • May 12, 2025

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Your Message to the legislators

Dear (name and title inserted automatically),

On behalf of the Catholic faithful of South Carolina, I urge you to vote YES on S. 62: The K-12 Education Lottery Scholarship Fund.

When the South Carolina Supreme Court ruled the Education Scholarship Trust Fund (ESTF) was partially unconstitutional a few weeks into the school year, many parents and their children were blindsided. Families suddenly had to scramble to keep their children in their new schools, worrying about how to afford the education that worked best for their unique child’s needs.

The ESTF program helped many families in South Carolina regain control over their choice of school. It is the right and responsibility of each parent or guardian to have a say over how their child is educated, and they must have the freedom to do so.

Please allow South Carolina parents to use the funds already allocated for their child’s schooling for the education method of their choice and support the K-12 Education Lottery Scholarship Fund. Every family — no matter their race, religion or socioeconomic status — should be provided with the opportunity to choose the best learning environment for their children.

Please vote YES on S. 62 and support a parent’s right to choose the best education for their child! Thank you for taking the time to read my message and for your consideration.