SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT FOR “HIGH QUALITY” EDUCATION By signing the petition you are voicing your support of a constitutional amendment to replace South Carolina’s dismal standard of “minimally adequate” with a new expectation of “high quality education” for our public school children. Read more here. |
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SC Chapter of National Association of Social Workers Pass a Resolution of Support
SC Chapter of National Association of Social Workers Therefore, be it hereby resolved that the NASW SC Chapter Board of Directors supports an amendment of Section 3, Article XI of the Constitution of South Carolina to read:
Carol Jaskunas, LISW-CP, ACSW Bruce C. Hurley
The 'minimally adequate education' law must go
Sign for a Change
by Clay N. Middleton, Charleston City Paper May 20, 2009 A great debate has been going on regarding the issue of a tax credit voucher system that some of our elected officials are unfortunately in favor of. Another debate we cannot let get away is the urging of citizens to support changing the state's constitution in regards to education. Read more
The State of South Carolina -vs- Education
State Struggles to Overcome Legacy of Indifference
For decades, that refrain has echoed across the Palmetto State, referring to the widely held belief that when it comes to rankings for education (or most anything else), South Carolina generally is 49th to Mississippi’s 50th.
Butzon: Public education: We get what we pay for
By JON BUTZON - Guest Columnist, The State Sheri Few is right when she points out that “minimally adequate” is not in the state constitution (“Constitutional amendment won’t improve schools,” March 18). It is a phrase conjured up by the courts. It is sufficiently vague and ill-defined that it allows maximum flexibility and minimal accountability for those who should be held to the exact opposite standard. Read more
Petition aims to improve education system in SC
Web site encourages support for 'high quality' schooling
Public schools: choices that work
The State, Columbia SC As an African-American, I am blessed to live in a nation that is turning a new page in the 21st century. Read more
Slow Going
Reform is against the interests of many legislators Recently, I have become fascinated by the differences between states. We are one country, but each state has a different political climate, a different mix of cultures, and a different host of challenges.
Grim Choices at a South Carolina School
By Kathleen Parker, The Washington Post DILLON, S.C. -- When Bud Ferillo told me to dress warmly, it didn't occur to me that he was concerned I might be cold inside the classroom. Read more
Dying S.C. school sees Obama stimulus plan as lifeline
By Howard Witt | Chicago Tribune DILLON, S.C.—Ty'sheoma Bethea went to the public library in this struggling South Carolina town Tuesday night to write a letter to Congress about the economic stimulus bill. The 8th grader had never thought about writing to Congress before. She didn't even have a clear idea what a "stimulus bill" is. She went to the library because her family has no computer at home, and the handful of computers at her crumbling middle school — hand-me-downs once used by felons in the state prison system—were unavailable. Read more
State senator says S.C. Constitution "born in sin"
By Andy Owens, SC Business News
Role in S.C. education debated
By Diane Knich, The Post and Courier Changing the language in the S.C. Constitution to require a "high-quality" education instead of just a free public education would make a difference for children who attend schools in 36 poor, rural districts along Interstate 95, Columbia attorney Stephen Morrison said.
A high-quality education
By Lee Tant, Times and Democrat
State Sen. John Matthews, D-Bowman, wants to change that. He has prefiled a bill that seeks to amend the state’s constitution to mandate that students receive a “high quality education allowing each student to reach his highest potential.” A similar bill has been filed in the House. Read more
Move Up to 'Quality'
'Minimally adequate' sets bar too low for S.C. schools The Sun News Does a good public education consist of teaching kids how to read, write and perform basic math calculations? Of course not, but that's all the S.C. Constitution requires of the public schools. Small wonder that such high-performing school districts as Horry County's are the exception in South Carolina.
Lawmakers push higher education standard
Democrats circulate petition to change S.C. constitution’s language Seeking to capitalize on their party’s “yes, we can” enthusiasm — and, perhaps, launch a bid for governor — two S.C. Democrats have launched a petition drive to change the state constitution to guarantee S.C. children a “high quality education.”
Fight Goes On to Boost “Minimally Adequate” Education Standards
BY AL DOZIER - The Free Times “We are in crisis and we are hardly talking about it,” says Bud Ferillo, speaking to an audience of about 200 at Columbia’s Shandon United Methodist Church on Nov. 16.
School funding levels questioned
By Bristow Marchant, The Clinton Chronicle Is your child's education "minimally adequate"? That was the question asked Thursday during a presentation at Presbyterian College, and the answer depends largely on where you live. Read more
Education petition circulates
Advocates want state to aim higher than ‘minimally adequate’ The Lee County Board of Education authorized District Superintendent Dr. Cleo Richardson to circulate a petition in Lee County schools. “I didn’t ask the board to support the petition but to allow it to be circulated in our schools,” Richardson said. “I certainly support it, and a couple of board members approached me saying they wanted to endorse it as well. We need to do more than just provide the minimum. Do you want to go to a doctor who is minimally adequate?” Read more
Minimally Adequate or High Quality
Greenwood Today South Carolina’s public education system has it's share of problems. Despite spending over 11,400 dollars per student every year we rank among the worst in the country by a number of measures. The decrepit condition of our poor rural schools along Interstate 95 lead some to dub the area the “Corridor of Shame.” The poor quality of the public school system in South Carolina makes national news at times. The nation is aware of the problems we have. Our school system has implications on our economy and the welfare of our citizens. If we ever want to get out of the cellar of underachieving in education we must fix our public school system. Read more
Multi-Pronged Approaches to Education Reform: The South Carolina and Illinois Examples
by Michael Rebell, National Access Network, Litigation is often necessary to spur education funding reform, but successful litigations—and especially successful remedies to adequacy cases—usually involve coordinated media, public engagement, and political activities. Recent events in South Carolina and Illinois demonstrate how multi-pronged approaches, involving both legal and nonlegal tactics, combine to promote education reform. South Carolina:
Rex to promote funding reforms
By Diette Courrégé , The Post and Courier S.C. Education Superintendent Jim Rex will spend the next 10 days on a statewide back-to-school tour aimed at ramping up grassroots support for reforming the state's funding formula for schools. Ensuring fair and adequate funding for schools was a key promise of Rex's during his campaign for office, and in order to make that happen, the state also needs to take a "comprehensive look at its antiquated tax system," he said. "The time to act is long past, and we simply have to act now as a state," Rex said. Lawmakers are moved to action when they hear from their constituents at home, rather than from him or the media, Rex said. "I'm hopeful we can get that kind of support," he said. Read more
We should not accept 'minimally adequate'
By Jim Rex, Spartanburg Herald-Journal
Rex address District 7 teachers, Converse staff on back-to-school tour
By Lee Gray, Spartanburg Hearld Journal District Superintendent Thomas White made the enthusiastic introduction, rallying teachers before the first day of school Tuesday. “Thank you for calling me the PACT killer,” Rex said, “but I’m not, you all are.” Read more
'Minimally adequate' must receive an upgrade
By Jim Cato, The Beaufort Gazette As the dog days of summer approach, some South Carolinians are assuming more than a lethargic attitude toward the education of the state's younger residents. They want more than a constitutional guarantee of "minimally adequate" education. Now a group is pushing a petition drive that should tell state legislators that they expect them to perform well -- above average -- when it comes to funding education to provide resources Read more
Drive seeks to alter S.C. constitution
Group wants more than minimum for schools By Diette Courrégé, The Post and Courier
Read more
July 14, 2008 South Carolina's public education system has its share of problems. It ranks among the worst in the country by a number of measures, and the decrepit condition of its poor, rural schools along Interstate 95 led some to dub the area the "Corridor of Shame." The quality of Palmetto State schools has implications for its economy and citizens' welfare, and some say the place to start addressing this issue is by making a fundamental change to the state constitution, specifically to change the educational standard interpreted as "minimally adequate" to "high quality."
Get involved in politics to help schools, Rex advises educators
By Diette Courrégé, The Post and Courier It's been less than two weeks since state Education Superintendent Jim Rex won the battle for the state to reform its accountability laws, but he already is rallying education advocates to fight for much-needed changes to the state's decades-old school funding formula. Rex urged educators on Wednesday in his second State of Education Address to mobilize, get involved in the political process and push for this "daunting and important challenge." Read more
Wary justices confront school funding
Don’t ask court to do Legislature’s job, Toal warns Does state government have a constitutional obligation to provide extra academic aid to students living in poverty to ensure they receive the same “minimally adequate” education as peers in wealthier communities? The question now rests with the S.C. Supreme Court, which spent Wednesday afternoon sorting through the perplexing issue of school funding, how much is fair and what role, if any, the five justices have in making such decisions. The court has no deadline to make a ruling. Read more
School case heads back to high court
By Bill Robinson, The State newspaper The S.C. Supreme Court on Wednesday 6-25 will consider for a second time whether the state’s rural communities inherently deserve more money to underwrite public schools. The case — pitting 36 of South Carolina’s poorest school systems against the state Legislature — has thrust the term “minimally adequate education” into the national spotlight, attracting interest from education advocates and presidential candidates alike. Yet that attention, along with millions in legal fees and 15 years in state courts, has not resolved the issue. Read more
Minimallly adequate isn't good enough
Opinion, The Beafort Gazette Public schools districts, especially the poor ones, received their day in front of five S.C. Supreme Court justices Wednesday, seeking to answer the long-standing question of"minimally adequate" education in South Carolina. A few weeks ago the General Assembly passed a 2008-09 budget in which 42.8 percent of the $7 billion goes to the Department of Education, along with about $700 million in federal aid, according to The State of Columbia. Regardless of how the justices decide the argument, it is a moral imperative that S.C. lawmakers tackle the issue through the legislative process, not the courts. Read more
Modern school funding needed
By Paul Krohne, The Greenville News It's not often that those of us who support strengthening South Carolina's commitment to public education find a point of agreement with Gov. Mark Sanford on education issues. It happened recently when, in a message to legislators regarding his decision not to veto the state's newly revised accountability system bill, the governor noted that it is time "to stop studying and start addressing" a revised funding formula for public schools. We couldn't agree more. With accountability revisions behind us, the General Assembly should turn its attention to much-needed changes in the way South Carolina funds our public schools. Read more
South Carolina needs to amend state constitution
By Dr. Tom Truitt, Published in Florence Morning News (reprinted in the Orangeburg Times and Democrat) A state’s constitution is a covenant between the government and the people. Since most of us haven’t read the South Carolina Constitution, we don’t know what it says about education nor understand why the education clause needs to be amended. But if we want to move from the bottom of the educational rankings and have South Carolina students prepared to compete in a global economy, we need to make a change in our state constitution. Here’s why. Read more
Public education needs to learn new lessons to raise good citizens
By Nicholas Charalambous (The Cocklebur), Anderson Independent-Mail Conservatives have been mashing the ideological hot button of “choice” in education for more than a decade in South Carolina, and it looks as though a legislative victory on school vouchers is as far away now as it ever was. Sadly, liberals may be confusing the public’s lack of appetite for vouchers with the public’s support for public education as it now is. Emboldened, they’re arguing once again that public education simply needs more money or a more supportive environment to truly succeed. Read more
Pee Dee education officials support constitutional amendment
By Shireese Bell , Florence Morning News Several Pee Dee education officials have joined more than 6,000 people who signed a petition urging a constitutional amendment to require high-quality schools in the state. Rick Reames, executive director of the Pee Dee Education Center, said the center’s board of directors unanimously voted to support the proposed state constitutional amendment to require “something more than ‘minimally adequate’ education.” Read more
S.C. standard for education should be higher
T& D Opinion, The Times and Democrat They are more than words in South Carolina. "Minimally adequate" is the description for the education guaranteed the state's public school students. Bowman Sen. John Matthews and others want to change that. It's a definition that's overdue for overhaul. Read more
No Room for 'Minimal' in Education
South Carolina's educational reputation is low compared to neighboring states. Scores on student testing are often at or near the bottom of nationwide rankings. Public education is one thing that most politicians and citizens can agree on. But upon what are they agreeing? Read more
Minimally Adequate Education 'Unaffordable'
By Dr. PAUL KROHNE, The Beaufort Gazette
Group wants to change "minimally adequate education" language in constitution
Posted at WISTV.com COLUMBIA, SC (WIS) - A web-based group is looking to change the South Carolina Constitution's requirement for the state to provide a "minimally adequate education," saying it's just not enough. Read more
Petition Drive Backs 'High Quality' Education Standard
State Senator Wants to Upgrade from "Minimally Adequate" State Sen. John Matthews wants to put an end to the days of “minimally adequate” education in South Carolina and raise the bar. Matthews, D-Orangeburg, is pushing an amendment to the S.C. Constitution that would require the state to provide a “high quality education, allowing each student to reach his highest potential.” Read more
'High Quality' Schools Sought
S.C. education advocates push for change in constitution By John Monk, The State Newspaper The folks who pushed for better public schools by bringing you mass rallies, a $6 million, 15-year lawsuit, and the “Corridor of Shame” documentary have opened up a new front. This week, they launched an Internet petition drive to get 1 million signatures to persuade the Legislature to allow voters to amend the constitution to say South Carolina must provide a “high quality” public education. Read more
Senators want S.C. Constitution to reflect strong support for public schools they say is missing now
By RODDIE A. BURRIS; The State Friday, March 14, 2008 Two dozen people spoke for about two hours Thursday before a Senate panel, with all but one urging lawmakers to amend the S.C. Constitution to declare stronger state support for public education. More than 100 years after ratifying the Constitution of 1895, South Carolina remains embroiled in a battle over its commitment to public education. Read more
Senator Matthews: Amendment Mission Statement for S.C. Education
By LEE TANT, T&D Staff Writer State Sen. John Matthews, D-Orangeburg, is seeking to elevate the state's constitutional requirement for public schools to provide only a minimally adequate education. Read moreIn The News
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| Support the Amendment requiring a High Quality Education in South Carolina! |
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