(AP) -- South Carolina education officials are rushing to spend $75 million in federal funding on special education programs, to avoid losing money.
The State newspaper reported Thursday that Education Superintendent Mick Zais is sending money to local school districts by June 30 to avoid losing more than $100 million in federal funding.
The U.S. Education Department says South Carolina has not spent enough on special education in the past three years. The federal agency has threatened to penalize the state $111 million for not spending enough on special education.
South Carolina ordinarily gets $183 million annually to help with special education.
The money will be distributed to all South Carolina districts, based on the number of special needs students they have.
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