As S.C. lets clock run out on $144M in federal education funding, it pleads for more time on $36M

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Last August Congress approved some $10 billion to help save teaching jobs across the country.

But South Carolina's state and education leaders (namely school leader Mick Zais and Gov. Nikki Haley) have avoided those dollars as they've viewed it as unfair federal government intervention — the state's $144 million slice requires certain levels of higher education funding.

And South Carolina has been loathe to fund higher education.

But with school budget shortages across the state, the loss of some $2 million in funding is not being taken lightly and a rally is being planned outside the state Department of Educationon Monday. 

Those detractors are also quick to point out that while South Carolina is refusing theeducation funding for teachers the state is actively protesting the federal governments desire to strip $36 million in funding for students with disabilities as the U.S. Department of Education says our state is not spending enough on special education.

On the upside, if South Carolina is due to not get $144 million in tax dollars we've already paid for, at least we can take solace in knowing that we still get more back from the government than we put in.

$1.35 for every $1 paid, as of 2005.

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