McMaster Proposes New Plan for Funding Public Schools

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — South Carolina’s governor is proposing a simplification of the formula the state uses to pay its portion for public schools.

The new formula Gov. Henry McMaster will put into his budget plan submitted to lawmakers later this month will increase flexibility and accountability and help out poorer districts, his education staff said.

The proposal sends money based on student-teacher ratio and minimum teacher salaries instead of the confusing arrays of formulas currently used.

McMaster's budget adds $120 million to the $3.4 billion being sent to local school districts to assure that 72 of the 79 districts will get more state money next school year. The remaining seven districts should remain at the same level, the governor's office said.

The formula sends money to schools based on a ratio of 11.7 students to every teacher. It then pays districts $66,524 per teacher needed, which is the median pay for South Carolina teachers. It also increases funding for certain groups, like children in special education programs.

The biggest change is raising the amount of extra money given to districts for students in poverty by two-and-a-half times per child, according to the governor's plan.

Districts can increase the student-to-teacher ratio and have wide latitude on how to spend the money, whether it be on administrators, special programs or better teacher salaries.

What the governor wants in exchange is accountability and his budget proposal would require audits by state-approved auditors, budgets published on school districts websites and searchable expenditures with a goal to try to figure out why some districts are better preparing students for college or getting students proficient in reading quicker.

The governor's staff said they want to be flexible with the new formula and work with lawmakers when they return Tuesday for the 2022 session.

The governor's office said his plan is a first step he hopes will eventually get to a total overhaul of school funding.