Education spending in South Carolina would increase slightly under a House plan to use more federal money as a one-time school-funding patch.

In a bill separate from the budget, the House agreed Tuesday to use $44 million in federal money to increase per-pupil spending to $1,777, up from $1,770 this year. The Senate still must OK the plan.

Gov. Mark Sanford suggested the move last week. House Democrats said it is a one-time fix, not a long-term solution.

Per-pupil spending would drop to $1,701 in the budget approved Tuesday. The money comes from $250 million the state will get from the $350 billion federal tax cut package approved last month.

The budget bill passed Tuesday spent most of that money on Medicaid, but some was left over.