Ellen Weaver State Superintendent of Education | South Carolina Department of Education
The South Carolina Department of Education (SCDE) has announced that the state's Education Scholarship Trust Fund (ESTF) program has reached its statutory limit of 10,000 students for the 2025-26 school year. The program provides income-qualified K-12 students with scholarships to create a customized education. For the upcoming school year, each scholarship is valued at $7,500.
The funds can be used for various educational expenses through the ESTF marketplace, including tuition and fees at independent schools, out-of-district public school attendance fees, transportation, uniforms, tutoring, educational therapies, and technology solutions.
"This is an exciting milestone in South Carolina’s education freedom journey," stated State Superintendent of Education Ellen Weaver. "This program puts hardworking families in the driver’s seat—empowering them to shape an education as unique as their child. I’m grateful to the General Assembly and Governor for listening to parents and making its restoration a priority."
To qualify for the 2025-2026 school year, students must meet specific criteria: they must be residents of South Carolina; K-12 students who have not graduated or reached age 22; have a household income not exceeding 300% of federal poverty guidelines or be confirmed Medicaid recipients; and not attend their resident public school for the 2025-2026 school year.
Applications for the new school year began in mid-January. The first quarterly ESTF distribution will occur in late July as mandated by law.
"Every South Carolina student deserves their best shot at success—no matter the school setting," continued Weaver. "Whether it’s traditional public, magnet, charter, independent, virtual, or homeschool, our job is to support what works best for them. The SCDE is committed to partnering with parents, educators, and local communities to make sure that every student is ready to thrive in college, career, or the military."
With the cap reached, SCDE has also introduced a waitlist for future program entrants. For the 2026-27 school year, at least 15,000 ESTF scholarships will be available. Parents interested in joining the waitlist can sign up online.
The ESTF program includes hundreds of education service providers as vendors and involves 26 public school districts accepting interdistrict transfer students through this initiative.