For Parents

“Compulsive Liar” Chad Connelly … Caught On A Lie AGAIN???

Published

4 years ago

March 26, 2020

(To read the full article click HERE)

Two weeks ago Chad Connelly claimed in a sworn affidavit that he had raised $1.045 MILLION in donations (over prior 21 days) … beginning of last week #FireChadConnelly told reporters it was $2 MILLION … and then followed up with email to parents stating that “Just this week, we issued our initial second semester CHECKS to schools and will continue to do so as funds are available.”

In our email last Saturday we pointed out that we believed it was another lie … that there was no indication (not so) Exceptional SC raised anything close to $2 MILLION … thus we did not believe that “second semester checks were issued”. Heck, we took an extra step asking parents to let us know whether they received the 2nd semester funding. The POLL RESULTS were pretty predictable: 65.4% of parents / families have not received a 2nd semester scholarship check, 34.6% “have not heard” and we did not have one person/family that confirmed receiving a 2nd semester scholarship check.

Yesterday, March 25, 2020, #FireChadConnelly & Board Chairman Tom Persons sent another email stating: “(…) Our Board Of Directors Voted Unanimously to disburse 10% of the spring checks to each school…”

Yes … you are reading it right – 10% of the spring checks!!! So let’s say, you have been getting a $10,000 scholarship for the last 5 years … this current school year, you received first semester scholarship check for $5,00 in the fall … you will be receiving $500 for the second semester this spring!!!

Well, what happened to the checks that “were sent to schools last week”??? Were they only $500 checks …? Or as we pointed out, there were NO checks sent out …? What happened to the $2 MILLION that (not so) Exceptional SC supposedly raised since January??? Or as we pointed out there was no $2 MILLION raised??? If Exceptional SC in fact raised $2 MILLION that should cover 33% of everyone’s spring semester check … not 10% … we believe that the $2 MILLION was ANOTHER lie … and there wasn’t more than few hundred thousands raised so far …

Our hearts are simply heartbroken for you – our families and schools!!! During these extraordinarily difficult times we would want for your to have one less thing to worry about … One less uncertainty to deal with … yet another burden of your school tuition was just added to your plate. Just so you know, we are working 24/7 here to help you! We are working with legislators to fix this mess and still get you help for this current school year … and DEFINITELY moving forward. It is critically important that you let your legislators know (click HERE to look them up) about this complete failure coming with 10% announcement. This is simply UNACCEPTABLE and not how these programs work!!!

For Parents

“Real” School Choice Bill Is Here

Published

3 years ago

December 6, 2021

PALMETTOKIDSFIRST

County Republican Parties (although this should not be a partisan issue) from around South Carolina are coming together to support “real” school choice … and to FIX the (not so) Exceptional SC debacle.

On Monday, December 6th, 2021, Senator Tom Davis (R – Beaufort) filed S903 … the PACE Scholarship Bill. Senator Brian Adams (R – Dorchester / Berkeley) who has been working with our friends in the Dorchester County Republican Party promptly joined on.

P.A.C.E Scholarship, a $100 MILLION school choice scholarship tax credit bill is out.

> $25 Million for Exceptional Needs (our hot issue)

> $25 Million for Disadvantaged / Low-Income

> $10 Million for Home School

> $40 Million for Kids moving from Public to Independent Schools (just like in Georgia)

https://www.palmettokidsfirst.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/PACEBill.pdf

The below graphic is the general structure. For our families, no real change except that Exceptional SC will be gone (finally) and INDEPENDENT NON-PROFITS will raise the tax credit donations and issue scholarships. Same qualifications to receive a scholarship … and same $11,000 maximum … only difference is this structure works everywhere!!!

Email or call us with any questions. We will let you know how you can help make this a reality in the coming weeks. #NeverSurrender!!!

For Parents

PKF FLASHBACK: “Who” Recommended this (not so) Exceptional SC

Published

3 years ago

November 5, 2021

PALMETTOKIDSFIRST

*https://www.postandcourier.com/aikenstandard/news/palmetto-promises-weaver-makes-recommendations-to-improve-education-in-south-carolina/article_e35cc85e-34e9-11ec-bc4f-272ce62ad918.html*

FLASHBACK – “Who” Destroyed SC Private School Choice Program: Remember, it was May 2016 … the Department of Revenue had already finished their nefarious politically targeted faux “audit” of Palmetto Kids FIRST. The Department, obviously working on behalf of nefarious legislators, claimed they wanted “peace” and just compliance with the law (although we did comply completely by the way, which is why they refused to shut us down as then we would prove it in COURT). But in the last 45 MINUTES of the SC Legislative Session that year, the proposal was brought up and passed to give 100% control the the GOVERNMENT … 100% control of the ENTIRE PROGRAM.

They couldn’t shut us down, they couldn’t stop us from raising the tax credits and issuing scholarships, they couldn’t stop us from making the program successful … so they proposed taking over the ENTIRE PROGRAM … and where are we today??? Complete failure and the Nation’s Worst Rated Independent School Choice Program.

YES, these nefarious parties (generally Republicans and their “monied” special interest and “paid” advocates) got everything they wanted … they DESTROYED independent school choice in SC … and many lives and schools in the process.

And guess “who” came up with and/or supported the idea that DESTROYED independent school choice in SC … as an “Independent Conservative Think Tank” … Jim DeMint, Ellen Weaver & Palmetto Promise Institute!!!

https://www.palmettokidsfirst.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/2016-05-2X-PPI-Legislative-Analysis-ECENC.pdf?ct=t%282021-10-30+-+Palmetto+Kids+FIRST%29

#FollowTheMoney

You won’t find that “Legislative Analysis” on the Palmetto Promise Institute website anymore … nor will you find the multiple other MAJOR “flubs”. They really are WRONG on A LOT of things … and history has proven it … and we have saved it all.

REMEMBER THIS DEBACLE? It was our October 1, 2016 Saturday Morning Parents Update. Ellen Weaver & Palmetto Promise “congratulated” Nevada … they were legitimately happy with the result even though all the kids suffered and the PROGRAM was completely shut down … and NO CHILDREN ever received a scholarship.

It was the biggest debacle in School Choice History (perhaps until Tennessee in 2020 which they supported too).

On September 29th, 2016, Ellen Weaver & Palmetto Promise “congratulated” Nevada … while that same day the Republican Governor of Nevada confirmed the ruling KILLED the ESA program … and the Republican State Treasurer who had pushed for the program APOLOGIZED to the families hurt by this whole debacle. But Palmetto Promise was happy??? It really is sick.

SUMMER 2020 – the $32 MILLION Debacle: And nobody is going to forget the debacle last summer … and the $1.4 MILLION ClassWallet “contract. That was another brainchild of the FAIL policies of Jim DeMint, Ellen Weaver & Palmetto Promise Institute.

It is all pretty sick stuff … but why do we care? Because this week SC State Superintendent of Education, Molly Spearman, announced she will not be running for re-election. Ok, so what?

Well … Ellen Weaver is rumored to be running for the position.

She / they / the “monied” special interest want her to RUN all of SC Education!!!

Is this what the call “failing up”???

More to come … but stay tuned!!!

For Parents

Only $165,579 raised in September

Published

3 years 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!!!