SC governor announces grants to help families pay for private school during COVID-19 pandemic

The governor allocates $32 million for SAFE grants for need-based scholarships to private schools.

GREENVILLE COUNTY WITH MORE TAG.YEAH, GOOD EVENING, NIGEL THEGOVERNOR TODAY ANNOUNCING ATLEAST 2,500 OF THESE GRANTS.HE SAYS EACH OF THEM COULD BEWORTH UP TO $6,500.HE SAYS THIS IS A BIG MOVE FORFAMILIES OF CHILDREN IN PRIVATESCHOOL OR CONSIDERING PRIVATESCHOOL, BUT TEACHERS AND PARENTSOF KIDS IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS SAYINGTHE OPPOSITE EDUCATION IS THEMOST IMPORTANT THING WE DO INSOUTH CAROLINA GOVERNOR HENRYMCMASTER ANNOUNCING SAFE GRANTSMONDAY RELIEF FOR SOME PARENTSENROLLING KIDS FOR THE FAULT.LET PRIVATE OR INDEPENDENTSCHOOLS LOT OF FAMILIES.IT WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THE CHOICETO SEND THEIR CHILDREN TO ONE OFTHESE OTHER SCHOOLS OFPRIVATE-INDEPENDENT SCHOOL WHOJUST CANNOT MAKE THE ENDS MEETAND THERE’S SOME THAT ARE INTHESE SCHOOLS NOW THAT OUR WORKIN THE STRUGGLING TO MAKE THOSEENDS MEET AND BECAUSE OF THEVIRUS YOU WILL HAVE EVEN GREATERDIFFICULTY IF NOT IMPOSSIBLE.SO THAT’S WHAT THIS ADDRESSESTHE FUNDING 32 MILLION DOLLARSFROM A POT OF MORE THAN 48MILLION IN THE CARES ACT.IT’S FOR FAMILIES WITH ANADJUSTED HOUSEHOLD GROSS INCOMEOF THREE HUNDRED PERCENT OR LESSOF THE FEDERAL POVERTY LEVEL FOREXAMPLE A FAMILY FOUR MAKINGTHAN SEVENTY EIGHT THOUSAND SIXHUNDRED DOLLARS.ELIGIBLE WHAT THIS DOES ISPROVIDE WORKING FAMILIESOPPORTUNITY.LAKE STUDENTS IN SCHOOLS THATMAY CHOOSE TO GO FIVE DAYS AWEEK OR MAY HAVE A VIRTUALCOMPONENT, BUT IT REALLYPROMOTES AND THE ABILITY OF THEPARENTS TO DO WHAT’S BEST FORTHEIR CHILDREN MCMASTER SAIDENROLLMENT FOR PRIVATE SCHOOLSWAS ESTIMATED TO DECLINE BY 10TO 20 PERCENT BECAUSE OFCOVID-19 A BOOST FOR FAMILIES ATHAMPTON PARK CHRISTIAN SCHOOL,WHICH WILL WELCOME STUDENTS BACKFIVE DAYS A WEEK THIS FALL, BUTTHE GOVERNOR’S ANNOUNCEMENTCOMES AMID UNCERTAINTY ABOUTPUBLIC SCHOOL OPTIONS THIS FALL.AND SOME SEE THE FUNDING ASUNFAIR.I’M SURE THERE ARE A LOT OFPLACES THAT MONEY COULD GO THATIT COULD ACTUALLY MAKE ADIFFERENCE FOR THE KIDS INPUBLIC SCHOOLS JUST FEELS LIKEANOTHER ATTACK ON LOWER-INCOMEFAMILIES AND MINORITY FAMILIES.DO DON’T NECESSARILY HAVE THEOPTION TO JUST UP AND SEND THEIRKIDS OFF TO PRIVATE SCHOOL SCFRED SAYING IN PART TO TRULYHELP SCHOOLS AND STUDENTS THEGOVERNOR MUST TAKE ACTIONS TOREDUCE THE SPREAD OF THE VIRUSSUCH AS REQUIRING MASKS ANDSHUTTING DOWN AREAS OF HIGHSPREAD RATHER THAN MAKINGUNFUNDED DEMANDS ON PUBLICSCHOOLS.WELL OVERTLY PUSHING A SCHOOLCHOICE AGENDA IS OUR POOREST ANDMOST VULNERABLE STUDENTS ANDFAMILIES WITH NO CHOICE.TAGGART HAUG REPORTING FOR USTHERE AND LAWMAKERS TELL US THISHAD BEEN IN THE WORKS FOR ACOUPLE OF YEARS AND SAY THEY’VESEEN A BIGGER PROBLEM FORAFFORDABILITY BECAUSE OFCOVID-19 IN ADDITION SECRETARYOF EDUCATION BETSY DEVOSSPECIFICALLY TOLD STATES THATCARES ACT FUN