(AP) -- South Carolina Education Superintendent Mick Zais is being criticized by House Democrats for not seeking more money for teacher pay.
Zais asked a Ways and Means panel Wednesday not to cut a key funding stream for classrooms, but he did not ask for an increase.
The so-called base student cost primarily pays teacher salaries.
The current per-student allocation is about $1,900 because of recession budget cuts. A state funding formula calls for it to be nearly $2,800 this year.
House Minority Leader Harry Ott blasted Zais, repeatedly asking whether he's telling teachers they should go a fourth year without a raise.
The Republican superintendent says he's not sure the money is available, and legislators can provide more than he is requesting.
Ott says Zais needs to make the request.
(Copyright ©2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
