The South Carolina Education Scholarship Trust Fund (ESTF) program has reached its enrollment cap of 10,000 students for the 2025–26 school year, the state Department of Education announced Monday.
The milestone marks a significant expansion of the income-based scholarship initiative, which offers qualifying K-12 students up to $7,500 to use toward a customized educational experience. The funds can be applied toward tuition at independent schools, out-of-district public school fees, transportation, tutoring, educational therapies, and other approved services.
“This is an exciting milestone in South Carolina’s education freedom journey,” said 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.”
To be eligible for the ESTF program, students must reside in South Carolina, be enrolled in grades K-12, not attend their resident public school, and either come from households earning less than 300% of the federal poverty level or be confirmed Medicaid recipients.
Applications opened in mid-January, and with the student cap now reached, the Department of Education has launched a waitlist for the program. At least 15,000 scholarships will be available for the 2026–27 school year.
“Every South Carolina student deserves their best shot at success—no matter the school setting,” Weaver said. “Whether it’s traditional public, magnet, charter, independent, virtual, or homeschool, our job is to support what works best for them.”
The first round of scholarship funds will be distributed to student accounts in late July, in accordance with state law.
Among the hundreds of education service providers participating in the ESTF program are 26 public school districts approved to accept interdistrict transfer students through the scholarship.
For more information or to join the waitlist, families can visit the SC Department of Education website.
