For Parents

ALEC gives (not so) Exceptional SC a “D-” for 2018

Permanent Law raises them from an “F” in 2016 & 2017.

Published

2 years ago

November 11, 2019

We are not the only ones that think the nation’s ONLY government run K-12 tax credit scholarship has been a total failure. The national conservative group American Legislative Executive Council (ALEC) has also rated the program a big fat “D-“.

Only “Permanent Law” which was signed on May 18, 2018 raised their grade from an “F” in 2016 & 2017 when the Department of Revenue & (not so) Exceptional SC took over administration of the program from independent non-profits. #FollowTheMoney!!!

Here is the ALEC report card on (not so) Exceptional SC.

And how does (not so) Exceptional SC compare to our neighbors in Georgia? Not so good. The $100 million Georgia program got a “B+”. And what is the main difference? Georgia uses independent non-profits!!!

Remember, South Carolina is the only program in the nation (23 total programs in 18 states) that is government run. All the others are administered by independent non-profits.

As the graph above demonstrates … the exact same South Carolina program got a “B” in 2014 … when the SC program was still a year-by-year budget proviso and run by independent non-profits.

The solution is simple and obvious to everyone … the only question is will legislators finally fix this debacle in the 2020 legislative session? Stay tuned …

For Parents

Only $165,579 raised in September

Published

5 days ago

October 19, 2021

PALMETTOKIDSFIRST

Friends, it is not really getting any better is it?

Our personal SC State Representative, Jason Elliott (R – Greenville) … not someone we like anymore as he has lied to us for years now and is working with his PAID ADVOCATE “masters” at Palmetto Promise Institute (Jim DeMint, Ellen Weaver & “Dr.” Oran Smith) … promised that his bill H 3899 that became law on May 17th, 2021 would fix everything.

IT HAS NOT!!!

On September 14th, 2021, (not so) Exceptional SC announced that there would be NO FALL SCHOLARSHIPS. Why? Because they don’t have the money because Rep. Jason Elliott’s H 3899 was a LIE and a COMPLETE FAILURE!!!

#FollowTheMoney!!!!

We dug the top picture up from the archives … what Jason told us a while back. The schools are satisfied??? #Really??? He doesn’t respond anymore … curious why? Sad …

And this from last summer / fall. Remember Jason & Palmetto Promise Institute‘s other bright idea. A lawsuit was filed the day after their idea was announced … and the trial court IMMEDIATELY SHUT IT DOWN!!!

And a few months later in October the SC SUPREME COURT ruled their MONIED SPECIAL INTEREST plan UNCONSITUTIONAL!!!

But guess what … in September 2021 … they have figured it out now??? Back pushing the same MONIED SPECIAL INTEREST PLAN!!! Anybody buying this???

Shame on YOU Rep. Jason Elliott!!!

For Parents

No Fall Scholarships – (not so) Exceptional SC “speaks”

Published

1 month ago

September 21, 2021

PALMETTOKIDSFIRST

No surprise … but last week (not so) Exceptional SC confirmed NO FALL SCHOLARSHIPS!!!

Their ONE JOB is to issue scholarships … and THEY FAILED AGAIN!!!

We (and y’all) knew this because we have been tracking their bank balances … but they finally admitted it this week. See their full email update below.

And yes, this is their FIRST email / parents update since May 27th … nearly 4 months. Why are parents and school officials being kept in the dark???

#FireExceptionalSC!!!

Sorry folks, as predicted, nothing is changing!

INDEPENDENT NON-PROFITS … just like in every other state in the nation … is the only thing that will fix this debacle.

For Parents

SLED UPDATE – Chad Connelly Embezzlement Matter

Published

3 months ago

July 21, 2021

PALMETTOKIDSFIRST

Back in March, the South Carolina Attorney General’s Office issued a FORMAL referral to SLED (State Law Enforcement Division) to investigate the Chad Connelly “Embezzlement Matter”.

This is a known and disclosed fact … yet Chad Connelly has been running around South Carolina telling folks there is no SLED investigation. Wow, this is sad.

Well, last week we sent letters inquiring into the status of the investigation. It has been four months, so maybe they had an update.

Well, we received a reply … and apparently the investigation is still ongoing.

This is going to be BIG friends. We don’t think this one can be swept under the rug. We are told that South Carolina law enforcement knows they have to do something and they know people are watching. South Carolina is known for it’s PUBLIC CORRUPTION.

What has gone on with our school choice program is in our opinion PUBLIC CORRUPTION at its worst!!!

“SLED or any other agency”???OR ANY OTHER AGENCY??? Who else may be looking into Chad Connelly and this embezzlement matter??? Maybe just standard lawyer language … or was this a clue that other law enforcement agencies are looking into this matter.

This is a highly political matter. Chad Connelly is friends with A LOT of political figures. But even though some folks have tried to cover up for Chad … there are people trying to expose this matter for us, for you, and most importantly for your K-12 children.

Stay tuned … and KEEP PUSHING!!! Expose them all!!!