Upstate School District Flags State Funding Shortfalls as a Concern

Officials from Greenville County Schools are expressing worries about the funding calculation method applied to public school districts versus charter schools in South Carolina.

District authorities stated that most of the additional state funds — approximately $112 million — will go to charter schools according to the present allocation method for their state support towards educational institutions.

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"A disproportionate amount of money has been allocated for charter schools, and it's nothing against charter schools. They need funding as well," spokesperson Tim Waller said. "It has everything with what we think the intent of state aid to classrooms was supposed to be. That is to provide a fair amount of money to public school districts and really all public school districts in the state to deliver the best education possible."

Waller said all charter schools under the current formula would receive about $90 million in state funding, with the remaining $22 million to be split among public school districts.

He said there are about 57,000 students enrolled in charter schools in South Carolina. By comparison, he said Greenville County Schools has about 78,000 students enrolled.

" $90 million for charter schools, $3.7 million for one district that has more students than all of the charter schools in South Carolina," Waller said. "We've seen this increase year after year, and what we're asking lawmakers is to take another look at the weighting."

State Rep. Bruce Bannister, R-Greenville, said he is working on a temporary fix to the funding formula.

However, he told WYFF News 4 that adjustments to the formula face pushback from the Senate and virtual charter schools.

"We're under enormous financial pressures, both from state mandates and all of the costs associated with education," Waller said. "We fight our best not to ever cut staff or raise millage, but the pressures are very, very real."

Late Tuesday afternoon, the South Carolina House approved to reduction in the virtual charter school weighting from 0.65 to 0.36.

The House also approved the creation of a study committee, proviso that, according to the South Carolina School Boards Association, "establishes that the South Carolina Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office (RFA) will review the student weightings used in the State Aid to Classrooms funding formula. The RFA will explore ways to better align funding with student enrollment and ensure more consistent distributions to districts and charter authorizers. The agency must consult with policymakers and relevant stakeholders as determined by the RFA."

The SCSBA said, "Recommendations for any changes must be submitted to the Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, Governor, and Superintendent of Education by December 1, 2025."

The changes to the proviso are not final, however, as the House and Senate must meet in a conference committee to iron out the two versions of the state budget in their respective chambers.

Waller said reduced funding to public schools could impact proposed raises for teachers.

He said under the current funding, teachers could expect a raise of more than $1,000 next school year. However, if the temporary change is approved, he said teachers could expect an additional $200 increase.

When the weighting fails to offer us the financial support required for hiring top-notch teachers, it immediately affects the type of education we're able to deliver to our students," Waller stated. "It’s unfair to taxpayers who anticipate a specific standard of excellence.

According to district officials, at present, none of their three proposed budgets for the upcoming school year includes an increase in millage.

Officials also said, as of now, they do not see themselves cutting or laying off staff due to reduced funding.

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READ THE FULL STORY: A school district in Upstate New York expresses worries over state financial support.

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