The Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America (OU), the nation’s largest Orthodox Jewish umbrella organization, praised the state of South Carolina as it nears passage of a tax-credit scholarship program for students with special needs. Passage of the program would make South Carolina the 23rd state to enact private school choice, pending Governor Nikki Haley’s signature.

The tax-credit scholarship program would allow taxpayers to receive a credit worth up to 60 percent of their state tax liability when they donate to nonprofit organizations that distribute private school scholarships to students with special needs. With a statewide limit on tax credits of $8 million, scholarships may not exceed $10,000 per student.

With Governor Haley’s signature, South Carolina would join 22 other states and Washington, D.C. with a private school choice program and 12 other states specifically with a tax-credit scholarship program. States that make school choice provisions to accommodate special needs students are Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Utah and Virginia.

Maury Litwack, director of state political affairs and outreach for the Orthodox Union, stated:

“With more than 12 percent of South Carolina students having a qualifying disability, we believe this tax-credit scholarship program will help parents gain access to the best services for their children. We look forward to Governor Haley’s signature approving the program for South Carolina families.”

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)