The South Carolina Education Scholarship Trust Fund Program has been an amazing blessing to my family. I am currently in graduate school and not working currently, so being able to have help with funding has been a huge help to us financially. With ESTF funds my children have been able to take piano and voice lessons through a school that we would otherwise not be able to afford currently. They have also been able to attend a hybrid school that meets twice a week, and we educate at home the other three school days each week. ESTF funds have covered curriculum and other book purchases, and some technology (printer, ink and paper for printing educational material at home). My children have never attended public schools in South Carolina, yet we have always paid property tax which in large part fund our area schools, so receiving ESTF funds has allowed my children to also receive some educational benefit as we are taxpaying citizens.
Education is not a one size fits all model. Every family has unique circumstances and situations, and every child has different needs and learning styles. Parents should be allowed to choose the educational model that best fits their family’s needs and their child’s educational needs. Strong families make for a stronger and more well-rounded society which ultimately benefits us all. Many people view homeschooling as isolation from society, but there are so many options for hybrid, co-op, and on online learning programs that in reality most people are not isolating their kids. As a taxpaying citizen, I believe we should all have the right to choose how our taxes are allocated for education. Freedom to choose is the best way forward!
