Parents beware: South Carolina is medically institutionalizing government schools
States across the country are “fine-tuning” their government-funded school choice programs. Legislators should be ashamed of this intrusion into parental authority
South Carolina has a reputation for being more conservative than most states, but recent education legislation shows the dangers of “free” government money even there.
In 2024, the state became the 12th to adopt “universal school choice” when the Education Scholarship Trust Fund program was signed into law by South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster. The program began operating in the 2024-2025 school year and provided $6,000 per student. For the 2025-2026 school year, the program increased to $7500 and now includes 10,000 students, whereas the first year was just 5,000.
Now, the bill is coming due in the form of more government control.
States across the country are ‘fine-tuning’ their government-funded school choice programs, many adding new regulations. USPIE is not surprised by this. Time and time again, we see popular government programs are laden with more regulations.
This South Carolina fine-tuning is especially shocking as it requires homeschoolers to be vaccinated, with no religious exemption. Legislators should be ashamed of this intrusion into parental authority. Parents need to remember, there is no such thing as free money!
Former New York schoolteacher Kasey Grado recently spoke with podcaster Susan Saravia about the choice that parents are facing in the Palmetto State.
“The School Choice bill (S692), along with H4757, the Parental Right Act, H3974 ‘Private Providers’ and other previous bills from current and past years are all working together to medically institutionalize the government education system,” Grado said.
The latest bill will force all students, in government schools and otherwise, to get the measles vaccine.
“S897 will mandate every child to vaccination and immunization requirements. This includes children that attend day care, public schools, students from K-12, and students that attend a public institution of higher learning, including all students that want to apply for the School Choice Education Scholarship Trust Fund. In order to be eligible to use funds for homeschooling or to go to a private school, they are required to be jabbed. This bill removes all religious exemptions.”
In a previous episode of USPIE’s podcast, “Unmasking Government Schools with Sheri Few,” host April Few, sitting in for USPIE Founder and President Sheri Few, spoke with podcast and homeschooling expert Nicki Truesdell about the advantages of homeschooling and how school choice and school vouchers pose a very real threat to homeschoolers.
“School choice, educational savings accounts, vouchers, it’s all the same thing,” Truesdell said. “I really believe it’s going to change the face of homeschool freedom. I am anti-voucher because what that comes with is more regulation… It’s totally a trap.”
The first and most important advantage of homeschooling is that “It’s not public school,” Truesdell said, noting that homeschooling gives parents far more choices, flexibility and time with their children. “And then everything else to me is family life. I’ve said things like, ‘Be a family, not a school.’ Homeschooling is being a parent, with school supplies… It’s taking complete control of your child’s upbringing.”
To hear more from USPIE’s Founder and President, Sheri Few, tune in to the latest episode of USPIE’s podcast, “Unmasking Government Schools with Sheri Few,” on Tuesday, Feb. 24, where Few is joined by special guest Dr. Robert Jackson, a husband, father of nine, grandfather of 21 and family physician of 45 years. Dr. Jackson currently serves on the boards of the South Carolina Association of Independent Homeschools, Personhood SC, and On the Rock Ministries, and in several capacities at his local church. Listen to “Unmasking Government Schools with Sheri Few” on YouTube, Facebook, Spotify and X.