School choice plans still in works

Education superintendent aims to provide options despite veto

State Superintendent of Education Jim Rex plans to press forward in bringing innovative programs to schools, even though state lawmakers failed to overturn Gov. Mark Sanford's veto of a landmark school choice bill.

Rex on Friday said he remains confident that South Carolina schools should examine single-gender classes, Montessori programs, foreign language immersion options and other educational choices, even without the law in place.

"Thursday's vote doesn't dampen my enthusiasm in the slightest," Rex said. "Public school choice isn't a gimmick, and it's not a fad. It's going to happen because it's the right thing to do."

But education officials can't mandate that all school districts adopt the proposals without a statewide law, so the choices now become voluntary for districts.

The vetoed bill would have required all schools to adopt at least one additional choice within two years, with options ranging from starting a magnet school to adding themed programs to existing schools. Even without the law, a new state Education Department staff member specializing in single-gender education has planned training sessions for interested schools. Rex also has pledged to lead town hall meetings across the state to discuss additional choices with parents.

Most Lowcountry districts already have a few schools that offer single-gender classes. Charleston has a Montessori school in West Ashley, a Montessori charter school in East Cooper and plans for a Montessori program at North Charleston's Malcolm Hursey Elementary in 2008.

State Rep. Leon Stavrinakis, D-Charleston, who backed the school choice bill, said he's pleased Rex is moving forward despite the veto.

"I think most of those things will help kids get a better education," Stavrinakis said. "You're finding the kind of variety that you have when you look at South Carolina's children. They're talented in different areas."

Many lawmakers backed the ideas in the proposal's first two years but had concerns about the plan's third and most controversial year. In that year, the bill called for allowing students to transfer across district lines and attend any school with enough space.

Rex said he expects some school districts still will volunteer to open their boundaries to students from neighboring districts as part of pilot programs. Although the receiving districts potentially could face a funding shortfall by accepting transfer students, Rex said he has heard from some districts willing to swallow those costs.

Charleston schools Superintendent Nancy McGinley said it could be beneficial if districts could choose to participate in the initiatives because then districts will do so because "it will be a good thing for children and not because the state is forcing us to comply."

McGinley said she plans to reach out to superintendents of neighboring districts and hold initial discussions because she thinks an inter-district transfer policy still will be approved at some point.

Still, McGinley said her primary concern is improving the district's academic achievement. Parents who believe in the district's schools won't be interested in sending their children elsewhere, she said.

Yvonne M. Wenger contributed to this report.