COLUMBIA, S.C. — With the new school year underway, a controversial program that can be used to pay for students to go to private school, among other uses, is back in swing after the previous version was struck down as unconstitutional.

The program this year differs greatly from its predecessor. It has an expanded capacity, funding mechanism, an income level requirement that allows more students to qualify, bigger application window, and even more allowed uses under the rewritten bill.

The newest version provides $7,500 scholarships that can be used for tuition and approved educational expenses, as long as a student is utilizing school of choice, be-it private schools, charter schools, or inter-district school of choice outside of their zoned public school. The program his its 10,000

See Full Page