Since January 2002 through June 2010, the South Carolina General Assembly has appropriated more than $2.2 billion in South Carolina Education Lottery (SCEL) net proceeds towards programs for higher education, kindergarten through 12th grade students, and other community education initiatives in the Palmetto State.

A detailed chart of lottery appropriations is available on the South Carolina Budget and Control Board's website at www.budget.sc.gov/OSB- historical.phtm.

Appropriations from the Education Lottery Account made by the General Assembly help support programs that benefit students of all ages. More than $1.6 billion has been appropriated towards funding opportunities in higher education, including $1.3 billion in scholarships and grants.

The Endowed Chairs Programs has received $180 million in lottery proceeds. Information on this program is available at www.endow-edchairs.org.

Public 2- year and 4- year colleges and technical institutions have received more than $102 million in appropriations for technology.

Other higher education programs have been appropriated more than $62 million. This amount includes the Higher Education Excellence Enhancement Program that provides funding to four- year private colleges and universities where a minimum of 60 percent of students are PELL Grant recipients.

Programs targeting grades K- 12 have received more than $549 million in appropriations. This amount includes more than $355 million appropriated to kindergarten through fifth grade programs. These funds are used for a variety of enhancement programs in reading, writing, science, and social studies. Because of these lottery- funded resources, school districts are able to invest in the future of their students through the purchase of new textbooks, supplies, workbooks, computers, and other learning tools.

Community education programs also benefit from lottery funding. The Allied Healthcare Initiative has received more than $16 million in lottery appropriations to help address South Carolina's skilled healthcare workforce shortage. County libraries have received $14 million in appropriations. Total appropriations to community education programs exceed $56 million.

Lottery proceeds are helping to build and support a wide range of educational programs in South Carolina. To learn more about where the money goes, visit sceducationlottery. com.