(The Center Square) – Educational freedom for three-quarters of a million schoolchildren in South Carolina is better than most of the country, according to analysis in the 2025 Education Freedom Report from the American Legislative Exchange Council.
South Carolina earned a “B” and was ranked No. 13 nationwide, up from No. 26 in the first edition a year ago. Florida retained the No. 1 spot and was the only state getting an “A+” while North Carolina (up 23 spots to No. 12) and Ohio (up 13 spots to No. 10) were other big gainers.
The Palmetto State, with about 750,000 schoolchildren in its nearly 5.5 million population, picked up an “F” for open enrollment, but otherwise was strong – a “B” for education freedom programs, “B” for charter schools, and “C” for each of homeschooling and virtual schooling.
A note at the beginning of the report says all programs and policies are as of June 1 last year.
Spending on education is the largest share of last year’s $14.5 billion state spending package.
In scoring categories, South Carolina got 29 points (11th nationally, a “B”) in education freedom programs; 9.63 points (eighth, “B”) in charter schools; 7.5 points (tie 13th, “C”) in virtual schooling; five points (tie 35th, “C”) in homeschooling; and no points (tie 32nd, “F”) in open enrollment.
Education freedom programs could generate up to 40 points for each state; charter schools 15 points based on authorizers, growth, operations and equity; homeschooling 15 points graded on the regulatory environment; virtual schooling 15 points based on state or district availability and approval process; and open enrollment 15 points tied to allowing interdistrict and intradistrict, transparency in transfers and a prohibition on charging tuition to transferring students.
ALEC bills itself as “America’s largest nonpartisan, voluntary membership organization of state legislators dedicated to the principles of limited government, free markets and federalism. Comprised of nearly one-quarter of the country’s state legislators and stakeholders from across the policy spectrum, ALEC members represent more than 60 million Americans and provide jobs to more than 30 million people in the United States.
