South Carolina K-12 Voucher Program Lacks Usable Test Data for Performance Assessment
South Carolina leaders are unable to assess the academic performance of students participating in the state's K-12 voucher program because usable test data is largely missing after two years. While state law requires these students to take end-of-year tests to…
Greenville Spartanburg Asheville Anderson, SC, September 21, 2026 —
Efforts to evaluate the academic progress of students participating in South Carolina’s K-12 voucher program are being significantly hampered by a critical lack of usable test data. After two years of program operation, state leaders have reported that a substantial portion of the required end-of-year test results from voucher students are missing or invalid.
State law mandates that students utilizing vouchers for educational expenses must take standardized end-of-year assessments to track their academic development. This data is intended to provide crucial insights into the effectiveness of the program and to offer accountability for the taxpayer funds invested. However, officials have indicated that a very low percentage of these students have submitted results that are considered usable for analysis.
This deficiency in data collection presents a significant challenge for state agencies and lawmakers responsible for overseeing the program. Without a representative sample of academic performance metrics, it is difficult to accurately determine if the voucher program is achieving its intended educational outcomes or to make informed decisions regarding its future. The lack of data also complicates efforts to justify the financial allocation to the program.
The contractor responsible for administering the program and collecting the data has not been publicly identified in relation to this issue. The specific reasons for the low submission rate of valid test results, such as administrative errors, parental non-compliance, or technical challenges, were not detailed. The fine amount for non-compliance, if applicable, was also not provided. Consequently, the full scope and impact of the program’s effectiveness remain largely unassessed due to these data collection gaps.
Story summarized from the original created by Skylar Laird on scdailygazette.com, see more information here.
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