When South Carolina’s education system meets federal politics, things get complicated. In this episode of The Upstate Tea, Kathryn Harvey sits down with former State Representative and Board of Education member Rita Allison to unpack the growing tension between state and federal control of education. They explore the potential fallout from dismantling the U.S. Department of Education, funding challenges for public and charter schools, and what “school choice” really means for South Carolina families. From Pell Grants to parental rights to the latest measles outbreak, this conversation cuts through the noise on where education policy is heading—and who’s really steering the ship.