South Carolina

How it works

The ESTF gives families a scholarship account usable at independent schools and on approved education expenses, including curriculum, tutoring, technology and educational therapies. Spending runs through ClassWallet: pay an approved provider directly or buy from the ClassWallet Marketplace. There is no reimbursement, so a vendor has to be an approved provider or sell through the Marketplace.

Programme

Education Scholarship Trust Fund (ESTF)

Administered by

South Carolina Department of Education, with funds spent through ClassWallet

Amount

$7,634 per student for 2026-27, in four quarterly deposits of $1,908.50 from late July 2026

For homeschoolers

Does not fund homeschooling

Who qualifies

South Carolina residents in K-12, aged 5 by 1 September, in households at or below 500% of the federal poverty guidelines for 2026-27 (up from 300%). The student cannot attend their zoned public school. Families homeschooling under Option 1, 2 or 3 are not eligible. The ESTF agreement itself satisfies compulsory attendance, and the Department says some families use it to educate at home instead.

How to apply

1. Confirm your child is eligible for this year — see "Who qualifies" above.
2. Check this year's window. Three priority windows a year: 1 November to 14 January for returning students and their siblings; 15 January to 8 February for priority students (active-duty military, income at or below 300% of the poverty line, or public school last year); then everyone eligible from 9 February. 2026-27 is full. The cap of 15,000 students has been reached and only the waitlist is open. If the pattern holds, window 1 for 2027-28 opens on 1 November 2026. Dates move every year, so confirm on the official page before you plan around them.
3. Create a parent account on the official portal and start the application.
4. Have your documents ready. Most programmes want proof of residency, the child's birth certificate, and an IEP or eligibility determination if the programme is disability-based.
5. Once you're approved, spend it. Spending goes through ClassWallet, so check the Marketplace or the approved-provider list first. A vendor outside both cannot be paid, because the programme does not reimburse.

Official programme page: ed.sc.gov/newsroom/estf-faq. Amounts, deadlines and eligibility are set by the state and change every year — always confirm there before you plan around them.

Sources

Checked 18 September 2026 against these sources:

• sc-estf-program.com/en
• ed.sc.gov/newsroom/estf-faq