For Parents

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

Published

2 years 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

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!!!