K-12 Education Reform Initiative

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WOLO) — “Education is key if we are going to keep moving forward,” says Governor Nikki Haley, R- South Carolina Monday, Governor Haley celebrated with those in the education community, the passage of the K-12 Education Reform Initiative. “As much as we are recruiting jobs into this state is only as good as if our children are the ones that are going to fill those jobs,” says Gov. Haley Highlights of Haley’s plan include, changing the funding formula. Part of that includes giving school districts 20% more funding for students in the “poverty index.” Haley’s plan also puts more emphasis on reading. “A child that doesn’t read by the 3rd grade is four times less likely to graduate on time,” says Haley The state will invest $29.5 million in a program that will give every elementary school in the state a reading coach. “If we were able to find an extra $30 million in the budget, I think it would’ve been better served again getting down to the classroom level,” says Sheri Few, Candidate for State Superintendent of Education. Monday, we sat down with Sheri Few who opposes Common Core. “Over 500, leading early child-hood specialist signed a statement, a joint statement arguing that these standards are developmentally inappropriate and potentially are causing psychological damage to children,” says Few when talking about problems with Common Core She also doesn’t agree with the recently passed “Read to Succeed” bill. “I think that it is the state government over reaching into classrooms. It creates a whole new level of bureaucracy,” says Few But, Haley says the bill and education reform tie together well. “The fact that, that got passed along with this budget, it was a nice celebration that will really help the kids going forward in this state,” says Haley Other parts of the K-12 Education Reform Initiative include an unprecedented investment in Technology and Connectivity with 1/3 of the Capital Reserve Fund going to that. Finally, Haley’s plan calls for expanding public school options for families. Her plan will give subsidies for students attending “brick and mortar” charter schools. Charter school enrollment, in South Carolina, is expected to increase by 27% next year.