The following is a guest contribution by Sam Aaron, Research Director at the South Carolina Policy Council.
A new poll released by the South Carolina Policy Council, conducted July 15–21, surveyed 1,200 registered voters on a range of issues across the state. This article specifically looks at voters’ responses to key K-12 education questions and potential areas of reform.
When asked about the direction of public education in South Carolina, 47% of voters said they are dissatisfied, while 42% said they are satisfied. In our January poll, 50% of voters reported being satisfied, and 39% said they were dissatisfied. This shift indicates a decline in public confidence in South Carolina’s education system.
Voters with school-age children were more likely to express satisfaction (52%) than those without children at home (38%). Additionally, male respondents (46%) were more likely than female respondents (38%) to report satisfaction with the state of public education.
We also asked voters for their opinions on a parental bill of rights policy. North Carolina has a parental bill of rights in place. South Carolina, on the other hand, does not despite multiple proposals being filed over the past several sessions and widespread support for the policy.
Voters were asked:
“How important is it to you that South Carolina parents have the right to review all school curricula, access their child’s educational records, and choose between public, private, or homeschool options without state interference?”
72% of voters said these rights are important, and 52% said they are very important. This support was consistent across party, regional, ideological, and demographic lines. Out of the 1,200 respondents, only 60 said the issue was not important to them.
This is a clear opportunity for lawmakers in 2026. A parental bill of rights enjoys broad, bipartisan, and cross-demographic support. Implementing such a policy would be both straightforward and responsive to voter priorities.
Voters were also asked about grading floors, an issue that has been covered extensively by Carolinas Academic Leadership Network (CALN). A bill currently before the Legislature (S.537) would prohibit schools or school districts in South Carolina from requiring teachers to assign a minimum grade that exceeds a student’s actual performance.
Overall, 51% of voters supported the proposal, while 33% opposed it. The proposal was supported more than opposed across all major groups—Democrats and Republicans, men and women, Black and white voters, younger and older adults, and both college-educated and non-college-educated respondents. Democrats were slightly more likely than Republicans to oppose the measure, but majorities in both parties supported it.
This is another area where the Legislature could move the ball forward in 2026 The proposal is already in the Senate Education Committee, and voter support is well-established.
What’s the takeaway?
Satisfaction with K-12 public education in South Carolina is trending downward. But the two education policy reforms surveyed in this poll (a parental bill of rights and a ban on mandatory grading floors) garnered significant support from voters across the political spectrum.
When lawmakers return to Columbia in 2026, they should prioritize these policies. More broadly, schools across the state must refocus on student achievement. If students are succeeding, voter satisfaction will follow.
For more information on methodology and the full crosstab marginals, click here.
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Sam Aaron is the Research Director at the South Carolina Policy Council, an independent, nonpartisan group dedicated to promoting limited government, individual liberties, free markets, and traditional South Carolina values.