The Senate voted 28 to 15 to approve the Education Savings Account Bill. As written the bill would provide $6,000 to 15,000 students. The money can be used for private school tuition and associated costs such as Internet access, books and transportation. If all 15,000 students were funded the program would cost a total of $90 million a year.
Reaganite and York County Senator Wes Climer stated, “The underlying bill is going to unlock an extraordinary amount of opportunity for families across the state.”
There are still questions about the bill and its constitutionality. Article XI, Section 4 of the South Carolina Constitution states:
SECTION 4. Direct aid to religious or other private educational institutions prohibited.
No money shall be paid from public funds nor shall the credit of the State or any of its political subdivisions be used for the direct benefit of any religious or other private educational institution.
