South Carolina’s federal school aid cut

The U.S. Department of Education withheld $36 million in special education funds from South Carolina in October, carrying out a penalty imposed on the state for cutting its own spending on special-needs students. South Carolina has cut special ed spending several years in a row.

A federal law mandates cutting a state’s special education grant permanently if the state slashes its special ed budget without justification. South Carolina’s $36 million loss of federal aid, a 9 percent reduction in its special education budget, won’t be felt this year after the state Legislature appropriated one-time funds, but federal penalties mean South Carolina’s budget will be cut by $36 million every year going forward.

Education Week online, Oct. 13