Petition for School Resource Officer Funding for All Students in South Carolina
To: The Governor of South Carolina, Members of the South Carolina General Assembly, and the South Carolina Department of Public Safety
From: Concerned Parents, Educators, and Citizens of South Carolina
Statement of Purpose
We, the undersigned, respectfully petition the State of South Carolina to extend funding for School Resource Officers (SROs) to include independent, private, and alternative schools in addition to public schools.
Every child in South Carolina deserves to learn in an environment that is safe, secure, and protected. The State has recently allocated funding to ensure that every public school has a full-time, certified School Resource Officer. However, the more than 58,000 students who attend independent and alternative schools in South Carolina were not included in this protection.
Basis for the Petition
Equal Protection and Fairness: Families who choose independent education continue to pay state and local taxes, including property taxes, that help fund safety initiatives in public schools. Yet, their children receive no direct benefit from these funds.
Public Interest and Capacity: If the 58,000+ students currently enrolled in independent schools were forced into the public school system, it would overwhelm existing capacity and strain resources statewide. Their parents’ choice to pursue alternative education eases this burden, but their children should not be penalized or left less safe as a result.
Student Safety: The safety of children is a universal priority that transcends school governance or funding models. Providing SRO coverage only to public schools creates a gap in protection that leaves thousands of South Carolina students vulnerable.
Historical Barriers: Current restrictions rooted in laws passed more than a century ago prevent equitable funding for non-public schools. These laws were originally intended to exclude certain groups of students and are now outdated and inconsistent with the safety needs of children in 2025.
Our Request
We respectfully call on state leaders to:
Explore legislative and policy solutions to extend funding for School Resource Officers (or equivalent security measures) to independent and alternative schools;
Begin a formal dialogue with stakeholders from all sectors of education to identify a legally sound, equitable framework for protecting all students; and
Affirm that the safety and well-being of every South Carolina child is a matter of state interest, regardless of the type of school they attend.
Conclusion
We, the undersigned parents, educators, and citizens, urge South Carolina’s elected officials to act now. Our students’ safety cannot wait. Every child deserves the same protection, no matter where they attend school.