COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - The superintendent of the statewide charter school district says he needs at least $12 million just to keep up with the system's growing student population.
Wayne Brazell plans to make his request Tuesday to a House panel that's drafting the 2013-14 state budget for public schools.
Brazell leads charter schools that choose to organize under the statewide district and get no money from local property taxes.
He says 10 new schools are slated to open this fall. He expects at least 3,000 additional students and possibly as many as 4,000. Currently, 11,600 students attend the district's 18 schools.
Gov. Nikki Haley has recommended an additional $5 million for charter schools in her executive budget.
But Brazell says without twice that, his schools could be in serious financial trouble.
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