Education Funding

State Lotteries for Education

September 13, 2005 1 min read
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States that have designated lottery money solely for education (net proceeds for education, through 2002):

California: Some $14 billion has gone toward education since the lottery was started in 1985.

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Florida: The state lottery has provided more than $12 billion a year for the Education Enhancement Trust Fund since 1987.

Georgia: Since 1993, some $6 billion in lottery proceeds has gone toward college scholarships, pre-K programs, and school capital outlays and technology.

Illinois: The lottery has added $11 billion to the Illinois Common School Fund since 1974.

Michigan: K-12 education coffers have reaped more than $10 billion since 1972.

New Hampshire: The sweepstakes, established in 1964, has collected some $800 million for education.

New Jersey: Lottery proceeds have funneled more than $12 billion into education since 1970.

New Mexico: Established in 1996, the state lottery has provided nearly $150 million for education.

New York: Schools have gained more than $21 billion since the lottery opened in 1967.

North Carolina: Lawmakers passed a lottery bill just last month.

Ohio: The lottery established in 1974 has netted nearly $12 billion.

Tennessee: Since 2004, the lottery has earned more than $360 million for the state education account and after-school programs.

States that set aside some of their lottery proceeds for education:

Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Oregon, South Carolina, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia,

States that contribute lottery proceeds to the general fund, some of which may benefit education:

Delaware, District of Columbia, Iowa, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, North Dakota*, Rhode Island

Other states with lotteries:

Kansas, Pennsylvania , South Dakota, Utah*, Wisconsin

*Part of the Powerball multistate lottery.

SOURCES: North American Association of State and Provincial Lotteries; Lottery Insider

A version of this article appeared in the September 14, 2005 edition of Education Week as State Lotteries for Education

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