As an in-home child care provider, I give parents peace of mind while they support their family. Because parents usually have a number of childcare options, I am always proud when they choose me to take care of their child, they trust me. However, while families have a number of pre-school options, they don’t have many or any options when their child begins kindergarten. For most, they are compelled to go to the school assigned to them based on geography.
South Carolina lawmakers can help by creating an Education Scholarship Account (ESA) program, which would help more families have options that would otherwise be out of their financial reach.
For many, there are great teachers at geographically-assigned public schools that are a great match for their children. But other children may need a different learning environment.
My daughter, for example, was struggling in her school and needed a smaller environment.
We found a public charter school that was smaller and able to provide more personalized attention.
I am able to volunteer there and be part of the school’s community. Seeing how education choice has helped our family, I believe it’s time for South Carolina families to have access to an ESA program.
In an ESA program, parents can spend their child’s education dollars on a variety of education options, including tutoring, virtual courses, curriculum, therapies and K-12 tuition. I have had to teach my children a lot of things I had expected them to learn during their K-12 career, especially related to African American history. With an ESA, I can ensure my children have a tailored, well-rounded education.
I hope lawmakers will create this program for families. Why should we have so many options for preschool and so few for later grades? No child should be hindered by lack of access to a place where they can build the foundation for future success.
