Making the Case for Quality, Universal, Voluntary Preschool in South Carolina

Early childhood care has long been viewed as a family issue centered on finding a safe environment for parents to send their children while they went to work. Today, we know that crucial brain development occurs early in a child’s life (85% by age three). Children who have quality preschool experiences succeed in school and later in life. Investment in creating a quality, universal, voluntary preschool program will improve the economy and quality of life for all South Carolinians. Click here for more information.

Equity in Education – All South Carolina’s Children should have equitable access to education

Among the state’s essential services and institutions for its people, none but public education is specifically named and included in the state’s constitution. This fact reflects public education’s status as South Carolina’s priority. Although public education represents the highest single spending item in the State budget, how those dollars are allocated has been controversial for years. There is a severe inequity between rural and urban school districts leaving rural schools with dilapidated buildings, high turn-overs in teachers and principals because of lack of the resources, support, facilities and salaries to keep them. The result is students in these areas who need South Carolina’s best educators are actually getting the least qualified teachers. Currently eight school districts in South Carolina are suing the state for inequity. The promise of equitable education for all children in South Carolina must be upheld. Click here for more information.

Proposed Regulations for Child Care Facilities

South Carolina has made great strides in improving quality of learning environments in elementary and high school. Policymakers can now improve the quality of the environments in which many young children are spending their time prior to entering kindergarten. Passage of the proposed regulations will have positive impacts by improving the quality of care and education during the most crucial time of brain development. Click here for more information.

Child Hearsay Exception - Giving Children a Stronger Voice in Court

Currently, when a child abuse case goes to court in South Carolina, most of what a child has told a law enforcement officer, social worker or friend about the abusive event cannot be related by the third party at trial. Such statements are considered hearsay and are barred by the rules of evidence.

In the year 2002, South Carolina officials determined that 10,875 children were victims of abuse or neglect. Sadly this statistic only reflects those children reported to and indicated by the SC Department of Social Services. Click here for more information.

Methamphetamine and Meth Labs: The Latest Threat to South Carolina’s Children

What is Meth? “Meth,” is a central nervous system stimulant. It is cheap compared to other illegal drugs, and is quite easy – although very DANGEROUS – to make. Meth is made from chemicals and over-the-counter medicines so that “clan labs” are now found in many settings, urban, suburban and rural areas. Labs have been found in apartments, houses, motels, trailers, vehicles and storage units. Meth is not only dangerous to the people living within the home where the meth is being made, but to the community in which the home is located. Children living in meth labs or exposed to meth making are endangered, innocent victims in this new and rapidly growing epidemic. Click here for more information.

Cigarette Tax: A means to fund Medicaid, Prevention Programs and Reduce Teen Smoking

Cigarette tax has the potential to solve issues that affect children: as a means of funding the under funded Medicaid system and other programs that benefit children, and a way to reduce youth smoking (by 7%). South Carolina currently charges a tax of 7 cents per pack, one of the lowest tax rates in the US.

There are over 40,000 children currently in the SCHIP expansion program. There are over 100,000 children in South Carolina that are uninsured and unable to meet the current eligibility levels of 150% of poverty. The families of these children are forced to use emergency rooms for health care needs, and have very little, if any, preventative alternatives.

South Carolina has one of the highest rates of smoking among high school students in the nation (36%) and more than 10,000 become smokers each year. Research has shown that by increasing the current cigarette tax by $1, teen smoking can be reduced by 21.2% The proposed cigarette tax would curb smoking among youth. Click here for more information.

Archived Policy Briefs

School Readiness

Uninsured Children

Teen Smoking Prevention