Haley Signs Charter School Bill, Touts Choice

In a ceremony at one of the state’s premier charter schools, Gov. Nikki Haley signed into law a bill that would give even more power to charter schools.

Haley was joined by State Superintendent Mick Zais at Greenville Technical Charter School in putting pen to paper on House bill 3241. A large contingent of students and faculty from GTCS were on hand to celebrate the announcement.

In signing the bill, Haley set her sights on even more change to the state’s ailing public school system.  “We will no longer settle for what we think education has to be, we will lead in this country on what education should be – and that means options, innovation and creativity,” Haley said.

Zais added, “A one-size-fits-all model of education simply doesn’t work for many students. Public charter schools are laboratories of innovation where the interests of students come first.”

Anticipating potential criticism about fairness, Zais also noted that charter schools are held to a higher competitive standard than public schools in that failing charter schools can be closed, whereas public schools cannot.

Haley told reporters after the signing that she looks forward to bills coming to her desk that will offer parents even more choice.