The respondents also expressed support for school vouchers. On a more positive note for public education, the study found that the public was still quite optimistic and expressed strong support for spending more money if properly targeted to increasing teacher pay, providing more and better training for teachers, and reducing class sizes. Overall, the state spends about the same share of its wealth on education as the national average. The South Carolina public also believes school funding should be distributed more equitably. Since 1977, the state has maintained what is called an index of taxpaying ability.
Richer districts receive less state money, while poorer districts receive more.
But the actual proportion of money that districts receive from the state varies considerably. Lee County, one of the poorest, receives 86 percent, while York 2, one of the wealthiest, receives nothing. South Carolinians are really in a race to see if they can create the kind of education base that will support the economic opportunities they see.