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Education

Why Suspensions are Not the Answer (Especially in Preschool)

November 24, 2025

By Jennifer Rainville, Education Policy Attorney at SC Appleseed About this blog: Education Policy Attorney Jennifer Rainville discusses why increasing suspension is not the best long-term solution to improving student outcomes and reducing in-class issues. Did you know that South Carolina not only leads the nation in preschool suspensions but also in the suspension of…

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Public Comment at School Board Meetings: What to Know and How to Make an Impact

July 29, 2025
public sitting a school board meeting

Written by Elizabeth Foster, Intern at SC Appleseed In our last blog post, SC Appleseed’s Education Policy Attorney Jennifer Rainville covered how to be in the know about your board’s meetings and policies. In this blog, SC Appleseed Intern Elizabeth Foster explains how to engage with members of your board through public comment. Public Comment,…

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An Introduction to School Boards in South Carolina, and How You Can Get Involved

July 14, 2025
chalk under a school board

Written by Jennifer Rainville, Education Policy Attorney at SC Appleseed Things can be kind of overwhelming these days in the world of K-12 education. One question that I get asked a lot is how do I get engaged? What actions can I take to stand up for the things I care about and are important…

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Department of Education 101: Family Educational Rights and Privacy or FERPA

February 20, 2025

Written by Jennifer Rainville, Education Policy Attorney at SC Appleseed I had a discussion with Bridget Brown, Executive Director of SC Appleseed, in January about FERPA. She said something brilliant to me that made a lot of sense. We are living in a world of “could” and “should.” In this blog I am going to…

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Department of Education 101: What is the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)?

January 13, 2025
school bus

Written by Jennifer Rainville, Education Policy Attorney at SC Appleseed Legal Justice Center In today’s blog, Jennifer discusses the history and value of the IDEA, a key law that protects the rights of students with disabilities. You may have noticed a distinct difference in the way that students with disabilities are educated now versus how…

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Department of Education 101: The Problem with Public School Funding Going to Private Schools

December 10, 2024

Written by Jennifer Rainville, Education Policy Attorney at SC Appleseed Legal Justice Center In today’s blog, Jennifer looks at the differences between private and public education and the concerns around funding private education. Visit our first blog about Title I schools to learn more about the Department of Education and the work they do. South…

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Department of Education 101: What Does the Title 1 Program Actually Do?

December 4, 2024

Written by Jennifer Rainville, Education Policy Attorney at SC Appleseed Legal Justice Center One of the major goals outlined by the upcoming presidential administration is the elimination of the U.S. Department of Education. Over the next few months, we will be releasing a series of blogs that will look at several key initiatives and programs…

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New Laws and Policies that Will Affect LGBTQ+ Students this Year

October 3, 2024
students walking to building

By Jennifer Rainville, Education Policy Attorney at SC Appleseed A new school year has started and there are some new laws and policies that are affecting some students more than others. There are a few changes that will directly be affecting students who identify as LGBTQ+. In this summary, our Education Policy Attorney Jennifer Rainville…

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What Exactly is the School to Prison Pipeline, and Why it Matters

January 31, 2024

Written by Jennifer Rainville, Education Policy Attorney When discussing criminal justice, we often focus on adults in the system, but the unfortunate truth is that interaction with the criminal system isn’t limited to adults. And in South Carolina, a state that expels more preschool children from school than any other state, getting caught up in…

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Applications for Free/Reduced School Meals in SC Returns for 2022-2023

August 2, 2022

Español abajoParents, you may have to fill out a free/reduced school lunch meal application for the 2022-2023 school year. Pandemic protections over the past two school years that have let children receive free school meals without the need for applications has ended. This means a return for many school districts to pre-pandemic policies. Check with…

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