PCSD Parent Advisory Council (PAC) Advancing Advocacy for Families
20,600+
PCSD STUDENTS
3,915
PCSD STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES
63.5%
INCREASE IN STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES SINCE FALL 2020
At the South Carolina Public Charter School District (PCSD), we recognize the importance of family input in shaping the future of education. That’s why we’re excited to introduce the Parent Advisory Council (PAC), a new initiative to better advocate for families, especially those with students with disabilities.
Why This? Why Now?
As our district continues to grow—with a waitlist of nearly 6,000 students, many of whom are children with disabilities—we feel a deep responsibility to listen and learn from these families. The South Carolina Charter Schools Act clearly outlines the sponsor’s duty to communicate with parents, and while our district has historically not been as engaged in this space, we are committed to ensuring these families have a stronger voice in shaping policies, resources, and solutions that benefit them.
A Natural Extension of Our Advocacy Work
The PAC isn’t a shift in our approach; it’s an extension of the advocacy we’ve been doing for years. Just as we’ve advocated for better funding, policies, and opportunities for all our schools, we see the PAC as an incubator for fresh ideas to help us improve services for families and schools alike. By engaging with parents as we do with policymakers and school leaders, we can better advocate for policies, funding, and solutions that will benefit not just students with disabilities, but all charter school families.
What This Means for Charter Schools
• Stronger advocacy for special education funding and resources
• Improved access to transportation for students in need
• Greater state-level representation for charter school families
Our Commitment: Kids First
This initiative ensures that every family’s voice matters in shaping the future of charter school education in South Carolina.
Join Us
We invite parents and families to be part of this important work. Together, we can ensure our schools continue to thrive, providing the best educational opportunities for every child.
For more information on the Parent Advisory Council (PAC) or to learn how to become involved, please contact Susan Howard at pac@sccharter.org.