January 8, 2010

COLUMBIA, S.C. -- The South Carolina Education Lottery has created a new tool to help you find out just how much of the lottery money is going to your school system. You select a county on the map and the funds appropriated for college scholarships, K-12 programs and county libraries since ticket sales began in January of 2002 are displayed.

Funds for K-12 programs are based on the student population in each county. Library funding is generally based on a formula set by the General Assembly. In 2009, lottery funds were first awarded to the South Carolina Charter School District.

According to the release, in the year that ended on June 30, 2009, more than 97 cents of every dollar spent on the South Carolina Education Lottery was returned to the state as educational contributions, prizes, retailer commissions and payments to contractors.

You can see how much money has gone to your county by going to www.sceducationlottery.com/educationwins/county.aspx. Just find and click on your county.