What to Know About 2025-26 ESTF Applications

Applications for the Education Scholarship Trust Fund program are open January 15, 2025 through March 15, 2025. Click here to apply. Here’s what you need to know about applications, particularly in light of the SC Supreme Court’s decision in September that has currently prohibited ESTF funds from being used for tuition and fees at a private school.

Who is Eligible

Under current law, 2025-26 ESTF applicants must fall within 300% of the federal poverty line and have attended public school during the 2024-25 school year. However, legislation has passed both the South Carolina Senate and House that removes the prior public school attendance requirement, so if your child currently attends a private school but falls within that income limit, we encourage you to go ahead and submit an application on their behalf, in anticipation of the new bill being signed into law. (if your child currently attends a private school, just select “other” on the ESTF application when asked what type of school your child currently attends, and you do not need to upload anything for the attendance verification documentation!)

What is 300% of the Federal Poverty Line?

These numbers are calculated based on the 2025 HHS Federal Poverty Guidelines. For households over 8, add $16,500 for each additional person. For more information on what is considered in this income calculation, visit our FAQ page.

What about the Eidson court decision?

You may be aware of the SC Supreme Court’s decision in Eidson v. South Carolina Department of Education, released in September 2024. This decision ruled that the Education Scholarship Trust Fund program cannot be used for tuition and fees at independent/private schools. However, the ESTF program was allowed to continue with funds being used for other purposes, such as tutoring, disability services, purchases in the ClassWallet marketplace, and more, so long as the student is not enrolled in their resident public school district or under one of the three homeschooling options outlined in state law. Thus, even as the General Assembly considers legislation to reinstate the private school component of the ESTF program, the program is still taking applications for the 2025-26 school year, although do note that private schools are not currently shown on the approved vendor list (but we anticipate they will be readded after legislative action is finalized).

We encourage families to go ahead and submit their applications for one of the 10,000 ESTF scholarships as soon as they can, prior to the March 15 deadline. These scholarship spots are going to go quickly. The legislation that would restore the Education Scholarship Trust Fund program has passed the South Carolina House and Senate and just awaits a conference committee agreement and the Governor’s signature.

For information on the provisions included in S.62, as passed by the House and Senate, we commend this article (and the accompanying graphic) to parents.

Have questions?

Check out our FAQ page for application questions. If you still have questions or need application help, you can reach out to our team at info@scschoolchoice.com.