Congress appropriated $13.2 billion for public schools to help them weather the coronavirus pandemic, which is causing cuts and layoffs.
South Carolina received $48 million in CARES funds.
Governor Henry McMaster has allotted $32 million of that total to underwrite vouchers for private schools.
Dr. Thomasena Adams, an educator and resident of Orangeburg, South Carolina, filed suit to block the Governor’s action. The lawsuit says the governor is giving a disproportionate amount of money to the 5,000 students who use vouchers, while shorting the 800,000 in public schools.
A circuit court judge in Orangeburg signed a temporary restraining order to block disbursement of the $32 million to voucher students.
Under the governor’s plan, students in Orangeburg public schools will receive $473 each, while voucher students will receive $6,500 each.