The South Carolina House just passed its version of S.62, the so-called "school choice" bill. Now it heads back to the Senate. But before anyone starts celebrating, let’s talk about what this actually means for taxpayers. Because this thing is expensive—and you’re the one paying for it.
If you’ve been told this won’t cost much, or that homeschoolers won’t be dragged into the mess, think again. The fiscal impact statement lays out the plan, and it’s a massive expansion of government-funded education.
How Much Will This Cost?
This isn’t some small, limited program. The numbers add up fast:
2025-26: → $60 million (10,000 students, $6,000 per student)
2026-27: → $95.89 million (15,000 students, $6,392 per student)
2027-28 & Beyond: → No cap on students—cost depends on funding
Estimated $6,810 per student
Each additional 10,000 students = $68.1 million in cost
If the projected 194,000 students apply, that’s already $1.32 billion per year. BILLIONS!
That’s not a hard cap—it’s based on estimated demand from similar programs in Arizona (2022) and Florida (2023). But because the bill removes the student limit entirely after 2027-28, there’s nothing stopping costs from going even higher.
And let’s talk about that Arizona and Florida comparison.
How Can SC Legislators Justify This?
The fiscal impact statement claims demand will be similar to what Arizona and Florida experienced (gosh, let’s hope not). But does anyone really believe South Carolina can handle that kind of financial burden?
Arizona and Florida are much bigger states with significantly higher tax revenues.
Arizona’s school choice program has already spiraled out of control, and lawmakers are scrambling to deal with a funding crisis.
South Carolina does not have the same tax base to sustain an unlimited expansion.
Yet, our legislators are using these much larger states as justification for unlimited program growth. If Arizona, a state with far more financial resources, can’t keep its school choice trap from blowing up, how does South Carolina think it will manage?
The Hidden Costs
Scholarships are just one part of the price tag. Here’s what else you’re paying for:
SC Department of Education (SCDE) Admin Fees → Starts at $4.2 million in 2025-26, but by 2027-28, it's estimated to hit $92.47 million.
Vendor Fees → Starts at $1.35 million in 2025-26, but jumps to $26.19 million in 2027-28. (What vendor?)
That’s tens of millions in overhead—just to manage the program. Because government programs never come cheap.
Where Is This Money Coming From?
Your tax dollars. There’s no magical fund covering this.
The state budget will have to absorb the cost, which means you will pay for it in one way or another:
✔️ Higher taxes
✔️ New fees or “education adjustments”
And once the program opens up to unlimited students in 2027-28, the cost is only going to rise.
Unmet Demand—The Big Red Flag
The fiscal impact statement says the program will expand based on “unmet demand” starting in 2027-28.
When has the government ever correctly estimated demand for anything?
The report assumes up to 194,000 students will apply—which already puts the cost over $1.32 billion per year. But what if more students apply? What happens if the state underestimated demand?
There’s no funding cap in 2027-28 and beyond. That means costs could explode past the current estimate. And once the government commits to a program, they don’t shrink it—they expand it.
And guess who’s included in this?
Homeschoolers, You’re in This Too
If you think homeschoolers won’t be affected, think again. The fiscal impact statement says that starting in 2027-28, eligibility will expand to include:
✔️ Public school students
✔️ Private school students
✔️ Homeschoolers
And that’s where the real control starts.
If you take the money, you’re now in their system.
The government will track how homeschooling families spend their education dollars.
They will use that data to justify future regulations.
And don’t be fooled by the “it’s optional” argument. Government money ALWAYS comes with strings.
The Bottom Line—Who Pays for This?
You. South Carolina taxpayers will foot the bill for a state-funded education welfare program that could exceed a billion dollars a year—and keep growing.
And here’s the worst part—this isn’t even about real choice. It’s about pulling homeschoolers and private school families into the system and expanding government control over education.
Pay attention. This is how regulation creeps in. This is how government slowly takes over private education. This is how “choice” becomes control.
And once that happens, good luck getting it undone.
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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