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PCSD pursues school bus pilot and tracks voucher, recruitment bills at Statehouse
Summary
PCSD staff told trustees Feb. 13 they are pursuing meetings with state lawmakers and the state Department of Education about a possible pilot to expand charter access to the state bus fleet and are tracking education savings account and educator recruitment legislation.
PCSD external affairs staff told trustees Feb. 13 the district is actively pursuing legislative engagement on transportation access and monitoring education-related bills pending in the South Carolina General Assembly.
Brad Henry said transportation is “a huge issue for our district and charter schools all across the state,” and that PCSD recently presented its budget before a House subcommittee. Henry said members expressed interest in exploring a transportation pilot to improve access for charter-school families, particularly in rural areas. PCSD staff reported follow-up meetings with the chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee and the Department of Education to discuss pilot design.
Henry also updated the board on an education savings account (ESA) bill—commonly called a voucher bill—now on the House calendar after passing House committees. He said the proposal as introduced would provide families with up to approximately $7,000 per year for private-school expenses funded by lottery dollars and contains provisions that could allow charter schools to provide services for ESA families under contract. Henry noted the Senate had passed an earlier version and the House was expected to consider amendments.
He said the Educator Assistance Act, designed to support teacher recruitment and retention, had passed the House and moved to the Senate. Trustees asked whether charter schools would directly benefit from voucher or ESA provisions; Henry said some bills permit contracting for services (tutoring and after-school programs) but do not necessarily function as direct tuition scholarships to public charters.
Board members discussed pilot scope and where to start. Henry said PCSD hopes a pilot would include both rural and urban components to learn how different communities use transportation services. Trustees encouraged continued engagement with lawmakers and the Department of Education while cautioning that pilot design must address cost and operational logistics.
PCSD said it will continue to brief the board as legislative conversations progress and will coordinate with affected schools if pilot funding or statutory changes are enacted.
