South Carolina Education Trust Fund Recipients

08/23/2026

Support doesn't end when the bell rings. 🔔

Today, we invite you to explore vital disability resources available in our community. It's important to know that while not all providers are vendors with the ESTF, your student's needs remain constant.

Come out today to learn how to navigate these resources and ensure your student receives comprehensive support wherever they go. 🏫➡️🏘️

💫 ONE WEEK AWAY! 💫

Have you registered for the Upstate’s premier event connecting attendees with resources for the lifespan of disability?

We can't wait to see you there!!

08/18/2026

For youth that want to follow in State Representative James Teeple's footsteps, they can now also earn their pilot's license will still in high school. If you missed the deadline this year to apply for the scholarship please still reach out to them with the email they provided. Hands on real world learning where taking the classroom to the sky's the limit to a whole new meaning.

✈️ Looking for scholarships to fund the next stage of your flight training? 𝐋𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐧𝐨 𝐟𝐮𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝐎𝐏𝐀!✈️

The AOPA offers scholarships for students at every stage of flight training, whether you're a high school student working toward your Private Pilot License, pursuing an advanced rating, or exploring aviation maintenance or dispatch!

⏰ 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐝𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞: 𝐉𝐮𝐧𝐞 𝟑𝟎, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔
Requirements vary, but you must be an AOPA member to apply. 𝐌𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐢𝐬 𝐅𝐑𝐄𝐄 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐡𝐢𝐠𝐡 𝐬𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥 𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐬 𝟏𝟑–𝟐𝟎.

Want to explore aviation before applying? Come join us for a ✈️ LIFT Camp or our Trident Technical College Aeronautics Training Center Tour!

Spots are still available for both—apply and learn more on our website or email [email protected]!

08/07/2026

The ESTF Review Panel held its first meeting this week! 🗓️

We couldn’t be prouder of Jena Sherban for her incredible advocacy for special education needs. Jena is one of just two ESTF parents serving on this 10-member panel!

While South Carolina’s Department of Education holds the legal authority to make changes independently, they are actively welcoming the panel's input. We hope this vital collaboration continues to move the program forward as more children access the education they deserve. 🌟

08/06/2026

As invoices are being sent in for services and goods please know the ESTF Advisory Panel will be meeting to make suggestions on how the program can improve. One of those improvements is to allow special education supports. Currently most specialty items needed for educational therapies are not allowed. We hope to change that! If you are a speech therapist, occupational therapist, physical therapist, ABA provider, or offer other educational support for students, how important are learning aids for students?

07/29/2026

Technology Item Limits 💻

Don’t be caught off guard with needing a computer before enrollment verification checks have been completed. Every time parents log into Class Wallet Marketplace there is a reminder like this. We know this may not be ideal for some families, but currently it is part of the process to help ensure the integrity of the program.

07/28/2026

Deposits are loading! 🔄

By July 31st parents will have access to their first digital deposit. $1,908.50 will be available in their Class Wallet account for each approved student.

If forms were not submitted on time there will be a delay in funds being distributed. Please ensure forms are filled out with the student’s name and not the parent’s name as this will also cause delays.

Please familiarize yourself with expense categories so you can upload invoices correctly. There are no reimbursement options with the program.

07/27/2026

Students with disabilities being able to access what they need is absolutely a state wide issue. The ESTF currently has several limitations blocking students from being able to access specific educational supports. We hope change will allow additional educational needs to be met.

Have something to share about special education in South Carolina?

The South Carolina Advisory Council for Educating Students with Disabilities (ACESD) welcomes public comment at their meetings!

The Advisory Council meets regularly to address statewide issues that impact the education of students with disabilities. Meetings are open and accessible to the public, and time is set aside on the agenda for public comment.

Learn more and find upcoming meeting information here:
https://oses.ed.sc.gov/parents-family-community/acesd/acesd-public-comment

Please note: The Advisory Council focuses on broad, statewide issues, not individual concerns. For school-specific issues, contact the OSES Ombudsman at 803-734-2833 for assistance.

07/27/2026

Students can attend a public school and receive the ESTF as long as that school is not their zoned school. What’s better is you can work where they attend! Several schools still have positions that need to be filled. Reach out to your local school today!

We're Hiring! The Governor's School is currently seeking to fill the following positions:

- Vice President of Finance and Administration
- Trombone Adjunct (Temp/Part Time)
- Production Assistant, Stitcher
- Production Assistant, Stage Tech
- Residential Life Coordinator
- Library Assistant (Temp/Part Time)
- Adjunct World Language Instructor

Please visit https://trst.in/4AzeqQ for details!

07/27/2026

Vocabulary Word Of The Day 📚📒

We understand the word homeschool carries weight. According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary the word homeschool is not tied to any specific legal entity for which it is allowed. With that being said those that use the word homeschool are typically speaking about using options 1-3 in SC. If you are using an online charter school you may say you homeschool, but legally it is not the same. The ESTF legally allows one of those options and one it does not.

Covid online schooling and online schools in general have changed the landscape for families saying they homeschool when legally they don’t, but by definition they do. That’s ok! What isn’t ok is people lumping everyone together in the homeschool category and then not understanding there is a legal difference when speaking about those using the ESTF.

This is why the term “unbundler” came to be known for those using the ESTF to home educate with to help avoid the confusion, and so others could know you can customize your child’s education within the program. The term “privately educating” seems to fit even better since there are private tutors, microschools, co-ops, independent courses and more that these students are accessing. It’s reminiscent of past times when families would hire a governess.

07/23/2026

Exciting news for ESTF families! 🎉🙌🪅👏🏽

Limiting new “unbundlers” from utilizing the program has been thrown out of the budget! Parents can now plan for the school year as some districts started today. We couldn’t be more excited for families to access the education their child needs.