South Carolina School Choice

Background Information

On May 5, 2023, Governor Henry McMaster signed the Education Scholarship Trust Fund Act into law. This new ESA program—modeled after similar programs around the country—allows qualifying South Carolina parents to apply for a scholarship worth $6,000. These scholarships may be used to create a customized, flexible education for their child, as outlined below.

Am I Eligible?

To be eligible, students must:

Be a resident of South Carolina; AND
Have attended a South Carolina public school during the previous school year, OR have not yet attained the age of five on or before September 1 of the previous school year but have attained the age of five on or before September 1 of the current school year, OR have received a scholarship the previous school year; AND
Have a household income as follows:

School Year 2024-2025 – does not exceed 200% of the federal poverty guidelines.
School Year 2025-2026 – does not exceed 300% of the federal poverty guidelines.
School year 2026-2027 and subsequent school years – does not exceed 400% of the federal poverty guidelines.

Students currently enrolled in a public charter school, home school students (as defined in Sections 59-65-40 [Option 1], 59-65-45 [Option 2], 59-65-47 [Option 3]), and students participating in the Educational Credit for Exceptional Needs Children’s Fund program (as defined in Section 12-6-3790) are not eligible for this scholarship program.

How Do I Apply?

The application period for the 2025-2026 school year opened on January 15, 2025 and closed on March 15, 2025. However, due to a revised bill (S62) currently being considered in the legislature, it is expected that the application window will re-open upon the new bill being signed into law. Stay tuned ...

A guide on creating your user account and filling out your application can be viewed here.
A guide on what documents may be needed and how to upload them can be viewed here.

More Information

Latest Updates after SC Supreme Court decision