Sen. Ford launches school choice campaign
By Yvonne Wenger
COLUMBIA — In the crowded Statehouse lobby shortly after session started today in the House and Senate, Sen. Robert Ford was hoarse from yelling. He drew a large crowd for his announcement that he'd had a change of heart and was starting a campaign to push for private school choice.
Behind the Charleston Democrat was a group of Republican lawmakers gathered to show support for the 2009 South Carolina Education Opportunity Act, a bill that would give tuition tax credits to parents worth an average of $2,433 to send their children to private schools.
The issue itself is controversial in this state: Critics, chiefly black legislators, say it will do great harm to the public schools. Add Ford, who is black, to the mix, and everyone is talking, especially because Ford has now announced that he is running for governor.
Ford said his primary purpose for his gubernatorial run is to raise awareness for the good that could come to the state if it legalizes video poker through the creation of jobs and a surplus in taxable revenue, not to push a school choice agenda.
Ford, however, had to fend off criticism today after he revealed that New York businessman Howard Rich — who has pumped campaign contributions to private school choice supporters in this state for years — helped finance a flier promoting school choice that Ford had mailed to 450,000 state residents.
Ford said he is not supporting tax credits for private schools as a way to raise money for his gubernatorial run, but he said that he would accept donations from Rich if the New York multi-millionaire offers them.
Sen. John Matthews, a Bowman Democrat and the Senate's senior black member, said he totally disagrees with Ford's stance on the school choice, and finds it strange that Ford is now advocating for the legislation when he used to oppose it.
Ford said his change of heart came when he started traveling to other states to learn how they were improving education by allowing parents to spend tax dollars in private schools.
Read more in tomorrow's editions of The Post and Courier.
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Comments
Elvisfan68 (anonymous) says...
This is probably the best idea that I have ever heard Sen. Robery Ford talk about. As I write this, my family and I are still adjusting to the fact that the CCSD has selected our school, Charlestowne Academy, to be closed. My child went to a private school from K-4 thru 2nd grade, and, began 3rd grade at Charlestowne Academy and is now in 9th grade at Charlestowne Academy. The high school parents at our school were told by the CCSD that our students would have to go back to our "home" high schools,which for many of us is either Stall High School OR North Charleston High School. BOTH OF THESE SCHOOLS ARE FAILING HIGH SCHOOLS! Charlestowne Academy's high school is a PASSING HIGH SCHOOL. So, the CCSD is wanting to take high school students in a PASSING high school and send them to a FAILING high school,UNLESS, we as CONCERNED parents go through the hassling paperwork w/ the CCSD of The No Child Left Behind Act and send our students to either West Ashley High School OR Wando High School. Now, no matter how much paperwork I have to do for The No Child Left Behind Act, I will do it. It would give me no greater pleasure to send my child to either Hanahan High School or Fort Dorchester High School,because of their academics and expectations but,because we do not live in either district(yet), we can not send our child to those schools. If education is free, then why not the choice of where we send our children to school?
March 24, 2009 at 5 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
moonpie (anonymous) says...
hahahahahaha! Ford has now announced that he is running for governor?!!?!?!?!?!?
You talk about brazen, you sir are no Barack Obama! He can at least read and write! This is a coat tail run at best.
March 24, 2009 at 5:03 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
wjhamilton3 (anonymous) says...
Howard Rich has poured fortunes into SC politics. He's bankrolled the Republicans for years. It's not surprising that Ford is trying to obtain his support. For a Democrat, this is an extremely weird approach.
I would be curious about where the additional funding for this is to come from now. Funding for new Charter Schools isn't available. Several good Charter Schools have opened in Charleston County over the past several years and they provide school choice.
March 24, 2009 at 5:50 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
moonpie (anonymous) says...
Elvis, that' a bad deal but you can't close NC High or Stall then that would be racist because it would overwhelmingly effect minorities and we can't have that. Even if they are failing and they are violent schools...
March 24, 2009 at 6:50 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
justjerry (anonymous) says...
These programs are going to do nothing but make public schools worse than they already are.
March 24, 2009 at 8 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ginjet (anonymous) says...
Calling all Democrats -- remember this during the next election cycle -- Sen Ford is inviting a NY banker into our state and selling the less fortunate a bill of goods. The way this works: Rich and his investment buddies pump $$ into SC to influence politicians and gain votes for vouchers; SC voters choose to put public money into private schools with no public accountability; parents that cannot afford the thousands of dollars difference between the voucher / tax credit and the private school tuition will be able to borrow money at credit card interest rates from Rich and his friends; the Rich get richer and the poorer get farther in debt.
March 24, 2009 at 8:57 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
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