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S.C. School Chief: Testing, Education Programs Could Be Cut

Columbia, S.C.

South Carolina's schools chief said Thursday he'll ask legislators to suspend some mandates, such as testing, to help schools deal with shrinking budgets.

Education Superintendent Jim Rex said some school districts are already close to operating in the red, with five months remaining in the school year, and it's unclear what else they could cut.

"We're at the point now that we have to ask ourselves, 'What can we no longer afford to do?'" he said, noting many expenses are due to state and federal mandates. "All the numbers are frankly going in the wrong direction — unemployment, poverty, resources are dropping like a rock, and the Legislature's...