This charter school change would help South Carolina’s military families | Opinion

South Carolina has long been a proud home to military families. From Joint Base Charleston to Fort Jackson and all the bases, reserve centers and armories in between, our state stands at the forefront of our nation’s defense. But real support for military families means more than appreciation. It means policies that work for them, not against them.

This year, South Carolina has an opportunity to show its support by passing House Bill 3862, the Military Child Preference Bill. This legislation has already passed the House and been favorably reported out of the Senate Education Committee.

It now awaits final action by the Senate, and hopefully the governor’s signature. On behalf of the families who have served and sacrificed for our country, I urge the Senate to act.

This bill would allow public charter schools to offer enrollment preference to children of active-duty military personnel, including members of the National Guard and Reserves, who are stationed in South Carolina. It’s a simple, common-sense change that recognizes the reality of military life: frequent moves, unpredictable timelines and the constant challenge of starting over.

I oversee 44 schools serving over 20,600 students as superintendent of the South Carolina Public Charter School District, and I am also a former military child, a current Army Reservist and the father of three military children. I know intimately what military families endure, and how important educational stability is for their children.

On average, military children move six to nine times before they graduate high school. These transitions often happen mid-year or shortly before the school year begins, well after most charter schools have held their enrollment lotteries. As a result, military families who move to South Carolina may find that their children cannot enroll in a public charter school simply because they arrived too late.

Ironically, South Carolina law already ensures that military children who move mid-year are guaranteed a seat in their zoned traditional public school. That’s the right policy. But why should public charter schools — also taxpayer-funded and part of the state’s public education system — be denied that same ability to accommodate military families?

Public charter schools are not private schools. They are public schools that offer innovative learning models, flexible instructional approaches and targeted student support. These are precisely the kinds of options military families often seek, especially those raising children with disabilities or unique learning needs.

According to the National Institutes of Health, roughly 20% of children in military families have special needs. As the father of a child with Down syndrome, I know how vital the right school environment can be. When these families are reassigned and uprooted, they don’t just need a school—they need the right school. House Bill 3862 would help them access it.

At Liberty STEAM Charter School in Sumter, I witnessed a moment that brought this issue home. The school recently became South Carolina’s first charter school to earn the Purple Star designation for military family support from the South Carolina Department of Education in collaboration with the Military Child Education Coalition.

During the school’s lottery drawing, families stationed around the world — including in South Korea and Germany — tuned in to see if their child would receive a spot. These families were preparing to relocate to Shaw Air Force Base in Sumter and had no control over the timing of their orders.

Our district, the state’s only statewide Purple Star District, has already identified more than 500 military-connected students enrolled in our schools — and we know there are more we haven’t captured. Meanwhile, more than 6,000 students are currently on charter school waitlists across our state. The demand for high-quality public school options is real, and it’s growing.

This legislation does not require schools to hold seats indefinitely or mandate new admissions processes. It simply gives charter schools the flexibility to prioritize enrollment for military children when orders come through late. It ensures public charter schools can serve military families with the same urgency and compassion that traditional public schools provide.

This bill is about fairness.It’s about ensuring that every military child — regardless of when they arrive in South Carolina or in a different region of the state — has the same access to quality public education as any other child in this state.

Let’s be clear: Military service is not just a job. It’s a lifestyle that affects every member of the family. The uncertainty it brings is immense. If we can give military children more opportunities for school, we should. The Senate should, proudly.

This story was originally published April 17, 2025 at 6:00 AM.