Last week, SCFC Chairman, Jordan Pace, sent a letter to the South Carolina School Board Association, detailing a proviso passed in this year’s annual budget which would prohibit public schools from allowing biological males to enter into females’ changing spaces and restrooms. There is a lot of bad news that was in this most recent budget, ridiculous earmarks, overspending on wasteful agencies, and underfunding critical agencies like DSS. However, despite all that, there were a few wins sprinkled into the mess. This proviso is one of those wins; especially for young women across South Carolina, and is a step in the right direction against the pernicious culture war the far-left is waging against traditional family values.
Read the full letter below and be sure to call your school board member and ask them to support school district policies that would comply with this law.
To: Scott Price, Executive Director Michele Branning, President South Carolina School Boards Association (SCSBA)
Subject: Request for Policy Revision to Align with State Law
Dear Mr. Price and Ms. Branning,
On June 26, 2024, Governor McMaster signed South Carolina's FY 2024-2025 budget into law. Included in this budget is Proviso 1.120, which mandates that all South Carolina school districts designate multi-occupancy restrooms and changing facilities for use exclusively by individuals according to their biological sex as stated on their birth certificate. This proviso explicitly prohibits students of the opposite sex from using the same bathrooms and locker rooms. It has come to our attention that the South Carolina School Boards Association's (SCSBA) recent policy and legislative update is in direct violation of this proviso.
We respectfully request that the SCSBA reverse its current policy and adopt one that fully complies with South Carolina law. The SCSBA serves as a vital resource and a statewide voice for the boards governing our 72 public school districts. Districts across the state rely on the SCSBA for guidance in developing their policies. It is crucial that the organization offers model policies that are in full alignment with our state laws. Now, President Biden’s Title IX rule has been halted by a court order. Accordingly, school districts in South Carolina should adhere to the requirements of Proviso 1.120 for the 2024-25 school year. Additionally, South Carolina Superintendent of Education Ellen Weaver has advised district boards and superintendents to disregard the new federal Title IX regulations issued by the Biden administration, as they violate state law and are likely to face legal challenges. A ruling by a federal judge in Kansas further impacts schools in South Carolina, particularly where students or their parents are members of organizations that joined the case, including the Young Americans Foundation, Female Athletes United, and Moms for Liberty. In light of these considerations, we urge the SCSBA to revise its policy immediately and to develop a new policy that is consistent with South Carolina law.
