We Can Do Better

Residential electricity rates have increased by about 8% since 2024, and Duke Energy Carolinas is proposing further increases of about 16% by 2028.

The average residential electricity rate is about 120% higher than that paid by industrial users (and about 54% higher than that paid by commercial users).

Over the last few years, rate increases for residential users has been higher than for industrial and commercial users. Specifically, the current proposed rate increase for residential users is about 46% higher than proposed increase for industrial (and commercial) users.

WE CAN DO BETTER!

According to US News and World Report, South Carolina ranks 40th in the nation in K-12 education.

South Carolina ranks 25th in 3rd grade National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) reading testing and 42nd in math testing.

South Carolina ranks 41st in 8th grade NAEP reading testing and 37th in math testing.

NAEP testing is performed on 3^rd graders, 8^th graders, and 12^th graders to evaluate achievement levels in a number of areas (reading, mathematics, science writing, civics, and U.S. history). Testing for 3^rd and 8^th grade reading and mathematics is required for all public schools (but not for private schools). Assessments of other achievement areas for 8^th grade are not currently required, nor are 12^th grade assessments. These tests provide an objective measure of school success in teaching these subjects.

The U.S. Department of Education is responsible for determining the NAEP test questions, for implementing the test, and for reporting the results.

Current reductions in U.S. Department of Education funding and a 50% reduction in staff will result in cancellation of NEAP science, U.S. history, and civics testing for many grade levels and the virtual elimination of all 12^th grade assessments. It is unclear what would happen to NEAP testing if the DOE were to be eliminated.

WE CAN DO BETTER!

Single Mothers and Child Care:

Roughly 40% of children in South Carolina and 31% of children in Greenville County are in single-parent households.

Roughly 80% of these are single mothers.

The average number of children in single-parent households is about 1.8 children.

About 78% of single parents are employed.

The median family income for a single-parent family of 3 is about $35,500, close to the poverty level of $26,650, and far below the ALICE threshold of $65,000.

There are about 288,000 preschool-age children in SC. About 65,000 of them are in households making less than the poverty level.

The single largest expense for a single-parent household is child care.

In SC, the median annual cost for child care for a single parent with 2 children (typically an infant and a preschooler) is approximately $20,500 (and about $23,000 for Greenville County).

The SC legislature has established the SC ABC Quality Child Care Scholarship program and funded it to provide scholarships for only about 250 of these children (for an average per child award of $7,600).

WE CAN DO BETTER!

The Environment:

Polyflouroalkyl substances (PFASs), also known as “forever chemicals,” and microplastics and nanoplastics represent significant threats to our health and especially the health of our children. The state legislature has done very little to address these threats to our health and the environment.

South Carolina permits the burning of biowaste and plastics to generate electrical power. In addition to releasing large amounts of carbon dioxide, it releases highly toxic air pollutants such as particulate matter, heavy metals, dioxins, hydrogen cyanide, greenhouse gases, and others. It also produces large amounts of toxic residual ash that is difficult to effectively dispose of.

WE CAN DO BETTER!

SC has the 7^th highest rate of rural traffic fatalities and the 10^th highest rate of urban traffic fatalities in the U.S. Greenville and Charleston counties have the highest number of pedestrian and vehicle collisions in the state.

WE CAN DO BETTER!

According to US News and World Report, South Carolina ranks 40th in the nation in K-12 education.

South Carolina ranks 25th in 3rd grade National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) reading testing and 42nd in math testing.

South Carolina ranks 41st in 8th grade NAEP reading testing and 37th in math testing.

NAEP testing is performed on 3^rd graders, 8^th graders, and 12^th graders to evaluate achievement levels in a number of areas (reading, mathematics, science writing, civics, and U.S. history). Testing for 3^rd and 8^th grade reading and mathematics is required for all public schools (but not for private schools). Assessments of other achievement areas for 8^th grade are not currently required, nor are 12^th grade assessments. These tests provide an objective measure of school success in teaching these subjects.

The U.S. Department of Education is responsible for determining the NAEP test questions, for implementing the test, and for reporting the results.

Current reductions in U.S. Department of Education funding and a 50% reduction in staff will result in cancellation of NEAP science, U.S. history, and civics testing for many grade levels and the virtual elimination of all 12^th grade assessments. It is unclear what would happen to NEAP testing if the DOE were to be eliminated.

WE CAN DO BETTER!