For Parents

Have You Received a 2nd Semester Scholarship? The Poll Results Are In!

Published

1 year ago

March 23, 2020

According to our poll 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 … we realize that our emails do not reach every family participating in the program but it is hard to believe that (not so) Exceptional SC would have $2 MILLION in the bank, sent money to schools and not one person could confirm they received a grant …

Why did we ask for the parents to participate in the poll?

Just recently we called out #FireChadConnelly‘s claim to the press that (not so) Exceptional SC had raised $2 million this year (read the article HERE). We challenged them to prove it …. we sent a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Request to the SC Department of Revenue to see if they would validate it (or at least to put DOR on legal notice as what we believe to be another lie) … and we challenged the reporter to get PROOF from DOR or Exceptional SC that the $2 million had actually been raised.

No one has been able to get / provide any proof as of yet … no surprise … probably because there is none … but we will keep pushing.

The sad part is we don’t think Connelly and the (not so) Exceptional SC Board realized, as we do, that Parents & School Officials would immediately put it together that if they had $2 million in the bank … Parents could expect scholarships SOON!!! We warned parents not to count on it until we get proof.

Well, we did not get any proof … no one ever seems to from this ZERO transparency organization … but interestingly enough Exceptional SC sent out a special update a few days later on March 18th with a statement saying “Just this week, we issued our initial second semester checks to schools and will continue to do so as funds are available.”

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN???

Has $2 MILLION BEEN SENT OUT??? If so, why not say that??? Are there no more funds available today??? Why can’t we get ANY specifics from Board Chairman Tom Persons who publicly promised transparency when the government appointed officials and SC Department of Revenue first took over???

Anyhow, you know our opinion, but if $2 MILLION was sent out … we would expect LOTS of parents to have received checks.

Stay tuned …

For Parents

SC DOR Director Memo – BOARD VIOLATED LAW!!!

Published

2 months ago

March 2, 2021

PALMETTOKIDSFIRST

We exposed these legal violations by the (not so) Exceptional SC Board in February 2020 … raised the ALARM that Chad Connelly was lining his pockets with scholarship funds intended for YOUR CHILDREN … and we now finally have the confirmation of what happened.

We sent a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to the SC Department of Revenue and they provided us with this MEMO from Director Hartley Powell.

It clearly states the LAW …. and confirms that the (not so) Exceptional SC Board was violating the LAW.

Seven days latter … this “resignation” email was sent out by Board Chairman Tom Persons.

We will continue to track and PUSH this issue such that the “misappropriated” money is RETURNED … and the GUILTY PARTIES (which includes the entire BOARD of Exceptional SC) are held accountable.

#ReturnTheMoney!!!

For Parents

H 3899 Bill Filed … a JOKE!!!

Published

2 months ago

February 26, 2021

PALMETTOKIDSFIRST

Well, the legislators leading this fiasco showed their agenda AGAIN last week … and it is NOT ABOUT KIDS!!!

What did they do???

They “rewarded” the (not so) Exceptional SC Board with a QUADRUPLED INCREASE in their Administrative Fees …

And worse … they are removing the LEGISLATIVE APPOINTMENT language so the BOARD WILL BE PERMANENT … and legislators will be able to say “there is nothing we can do”?!?!?!

It is getting to a BREAKING POINT … they are getting DESPERATE … and this bill is perfect evidence of that desperation!!!

And if you think that is all bad … this is a FIRST IN THE NATION …

… they want the SC Department of Education to “donate” $12 MILLION to (not so) Exceptional SC. SAY WHAT???

Read it … it is right there in the title of the bill (picture up top) … or read the bill here

Insanity!!! Another square peg in a round hole. ANYTHING except what every other state does …

#FollowTheMoney!!!

“Who” is behind it?

Rep. Jason Elliott (R – Greenville)

https://www.scstatehouse.gov/member.php?code=0529545391

Rep. Shannon Erickson (R – Beaufort)

https://www.scstatehouse.gov/member.php?code=0539772663

It is personal folks … and these legislators care more about their personal vendettas and their “monied” SPECIAL INTEREST supporters … than they do about YOUR KIDS!!!

For Parents

SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS UPDATE!!!

Published

2 months ago

February 22, 2021

PALMETTOKIDSFIRST

Well, we are getting reports from parents and school officials that the checks that are going out are approximately 20% of tuition.

Why would (not so) Exceptional SC not tell parents how much specifically they were receiving … or even generally how much … we can only speculate … but we are hearing the amounts are approximately 20%.

The home stretch of the 2020-2021 school year is here … the promised funding is not … there is not even a plan in place on what to expect …. other than the pitiful 20% no communications whatsoever!!! Politics over children … AGAIN?

We offered a solution … to raise the full 2020 $12 million by 12/31 …. and next year’s $12 million in early January 2021. That was $24 MILLION by 1/31/2021!!! Well … they knew better … NOT!

Yet YOU lost $7.5 MILLION in 2019 … $8 MILLION in 2020 … and with the current fundraising pace … YOU will lose even more in 2021.