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There are a lot of cooked-up stories floating around about S.62. It’s being paraded like a freebie for all parents. It's a golden ticket for school choice.
It’s not.
So here’s a quick cheat sheet that separates the polished marketing myths from the actual facts in the bill and fiscal impact statement.
FACT vs. MYTH about S.62
MYTH: The money follows the child.
FACT: Only the state portion of funding follows the child. Local funding stays with the public school. Federal dollars? Those usually lag behind, meaning the public school might keep that too until the system catches up. So taxpayers end up paying for the child who left and the ghost child, or the one who replaced them. No savings here, just more spending.
Plus, it’s taxpayer money that follows the child, which is clear redistribution of wealth.
MYTH: Homeschoolers aren’t part of this.
FACT: Yes and no.
If a parent takes the scholarship, they are legally required to give up homeschooling under SC Code 59-65. The bill says they must not participate in a home instruction program. Yet an eligible public school student can still use these funds for online learning, including homeschool curriculums.
On top of that, the fiscal impact expects homeschoolers to be part of the program once it becomes universal. So yes, they’re in the plan.
MYTH: This doesn’t grow government.
FACT: Of course it does! It’s a government program. S.62 creates a government program with employees, administrative offices, and vendor costs. That’s millions in government expansion built right into the bill.
MYTH: There aren’t any new regulations.
FACT: S.62 is a bill that, if passed, will become law. That’s a regulation.
Also, the bill creates rules for parents, private schools, vendors, and even testing requirements. It regulates how families can educate their kids, tracks performance, and sets up enforcement through audits and compliance checks. It’s all regulation.
MYTH: This will create competition.
FACT: This is one of the most twisted myths I’ve heard from school choice pushers. The phrase “school choice will create competition” gets tossed around like it’s some kind of economic magic wand.
Since when does the government create real competition?
Real competition happens when families are free to spend their own money how and where they want, not when they're funneled through state-approved rules, tracking, and funding.
This government program regulates options and limits free market competition.
MYTH: It won’t cost taxpayers.
FACT: Someone has to pay for it because it’s not free. That someone will be us.
Worse, by 2026, the program is expected to cost nearly $96 million, and that number will grow once the cap is removed in 2027.
South Carolinian taxpayers, you will foot the bill for this program that expands state control over education paths that had limited government interference.
Hopefully this clears up some of the confusion and sets the record straight. If you’ve heard other myths being spread about S.62, drop them in the comments.
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not constitute legal or professional advice. ConservaTruth assumes no liability for any actions taken based on this content. Read more.
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