For Parents

BRUTAL day at the Supreme Court – for the opposition!

Published

7 months ago

September 18, 2020

SAFE Grants Case Update (09/18/2020): You never know which way it will go with our SC Courts, but after watching 1 1/2 hours of oral arguments before the SC Supreme Court today … this was BRUTAL!!!

You can watch the full video on our Facebook page here:

https://www.facebook.com/123595537849390/videos/1041298452967887

The “farce” which is Governor McMaster’s (#Duped by #PaidAdvocates) July 20th announcement of a $32 million allocation of CARES Act money (TO PALMETTO PROMISE TO “MANAGE” … lol) was IMMEDIATELY sued on CONSTITUTIONAL ISSUES and a temporary injunction granted by the trial court.

Due to the urgency of the matter, our SC Supreme Court took it up directly … and the hearing was today. Again … it was BRUTAL (for our opposition)!!!!

One issue … the SC Constitutional prohibition of “public funds” being used for the “direct benefit of any religious or other private educations institution” went worse than we even expected. The Chief Justice made it clear that he did not agree with Governor McMaster’s attorney. WOW!!!

The other big issue was whether CARES Act money was even able to be used for private schools. The Governor’s attorney argued that the Governor had “discretion” … using that word probably 20 + times … to which one Justice responded:

I had my law clerks do a word search of the CARES Act, and the word “discretion” does not exist in the entire document.

See what we mean by … BRUTAL!!!

THAT WAS NOT ALL … apparently, not one, but THREE Federal Court Judges have RULED AGAINST the use of CARES Act dollars for privates schools. That was a hot topic at the SC Supreme Court and when the Justices dove into the specific sections … yes, the Justices were prepared … it seemed plainly obvious to spectators that the Governor does not have the authority under the CARES Act (regardless of the SC Constitution) to direct this funding to private schools. BRUTAL!!!

https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2020/09/11/911869208/devos-loses-latest-fight-over-rerouting-aid-to-private-school-students

ONCE AGAIN … kids not getting help because of the PAID ADVOCATES pushing a GOVERNMENT RUN private school choice solution to benefit their monied special interest donors. #FollowTheMoney #RealSchoolChoice #SchoolChoice!!! #Corruption #SafeGrants not safe!!!

THE SOLUTION?: Easy!!! This would NEVER happen (per rulings in the US SUPREME COURT & 20+ years of proven history) with K-12 Tax Credit Scholarships run by INDEPENDENT NON-PROFITS. The opposition does not like it, but it is the ONLY solution that works.

Another school choice debacle in SC … created by the “paid” advocates. Who would have guessed!?!?!

Hint … Governor McMaster …… STOP listening to the SPECIAL INTEREST!!!! Put our Palmetto Kids FIRST!!!

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.