Rex makes case to Democrats for open enrollment

State education superintendent Jim Rex met with fellow Democrats this morning, asking them to override Gov. Mark Sanford's veto of the open enrollment bill.

The bill would allow students to cross district lines to enroll in a public school of their choice. Rex, who was elected in November, ran on a platform of providing public school choice.

Rex used the meeting to reassure African American members of the General Assembly that the open enrollment bill could not be used as a vehicle to re-segregate schools.

"Particularly in the African American community, choice has been used in a lot of ways that is not honorable," Rex said. "This is totally different."

Open enrollment passed the House by four votes. The vote to override Sanford would take two-thirds of the House. The vote is expected to be close.

Rex said if the bill fails it would "give some direction for next year."