“A real trust problem.”

Needed a master's to qualify. Got one in six months.

State law requires a master's degree for this job. When she filed to run, she didn't have one. So in April 2022 she enrolled at Bob Jones University, her alma mater, and finished 33 credit hours by October, right before the debates. The program usually takes 12 to 18 months. At least one BJU faculty member donated to her campaign. After complaints, the school's accreditor ordered a report on its fast-track degree policies.

Six months. Her old school. A faculty donor. An accreditor asking questions. You do the math.

Sources: WIS-TV · Inside Higher Ed

Took a salary more than double her predecessor's

$214,000. The superintendent before her made $92,000.

Source: Post and Courier

Cut off the state's school librarians

Ended a 50-year partnership with the SC Association of School Librarians by letter.

Source: Post and Courier

Stripped credit from AP African American Studies

South Carolina became the third state to restrict the course.

Source: Post and Courier

Her voucher program struck down in court

The SC Supreme Court ruled 3 to 2 that using the money for private school tuition violated the state Constitution.

Source: WIS-TV

1,005 ineligible students kicked out

They'd already spent nearly $64,000, mostly on computers and electronics.

Source: SC Daily Gazette

Brought PragerU into classrooms, skipping review

No normal materials review. No State Board vote. A board member called it "a unilateral decision."

Sources: SC Daily Gazette · SC Daily Gazette

Handed staff a list of banned words

"Social-emotional learning" is on it. The memo says the list "is not exhaustive."

Source: SC Department of Education

22 books pulled. The most of any state.

Board members don't have to read the books. One parent brought 14 of the challenges.

Sources: SC Daily Gazette · Post and Courier

"We are not banning books"

She said it to lawmakers. The reply: "Don't insult my intelligence, Ma'am."

Source: WCBD

Sued in federal court over the book rule

Librarians and three students say it violates the First Amendment.

Source: ACLU of South Carolina

School report cards came out late

Pushed three weeks after districts caught data problems. A Republican lawmaker: "just mind boggling."

Source: WSPA

Paid 1,182 homeschoolers against lawmakers' intent

$7,500 each. Asked if she'd back the bill to stop it, she wouldn't answer.

Source: SC Daily Gazette

Voucher fraud referred to SLED

A woman was charged with using voucher money to buy $6,547 in electronics to resell.

Source: SC Daily Gazette

Asked to double the program anyway

20,000 slots and $61.4 million more, with year-one results still missing.

Source: SC Daily Gazette

Senators called for an audit

The Legislative Audit Council is now reviewing how her department ran the program.

Source: SC Legislative Audit Council

Usable test scores for 1 in 10

Of 2,880 first-year voucher students. No data at all for nearly 630. Required graduation and demographic data never delivered.

Sources: SC Daily Gazette · WLTX