COLUMBIA - A popular choice in South Carolina's public schools is shrinking because of continued budget cuts.

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South Carolina is the national leader in offering single-gender programs in public schools. One such program is at North Augusta Elementary School.

The number of schools offering boy- and girl-only classes had spread rapidly to nearly 220 statewide last spring, and more schools had hoped to add the choice.

Instead, it has become a budget casualty in some school districts.

Nearly 60 schools had to drop the option after losing teachers to budget cuts because there were no longer enough to teach coed and single-gender. That includes a Greenville high school that lost nine teachers, said David Chadwell, the state's single-gender coordinator.

"Schools aren't as flexible with scheduling," he said.

More than 275 teachers from across the state were expected to attend an annual workshop today for single-gender education. About half of the teachers who signed up for the training, this year at Berkeley Middle School in Moncks Corner, teach coed classes but are interested in the program, Chadwell said.

The Education Department says 100 schools are considering offering the choice.

"A lot of schools want it to happen, but they may have to stay out for a little while. ... A lot of schools are waiting to see the final word on budget cuts," Chadwell said.

Hired in summer 2007 for the education agency's new Office of School Choice, Chadwell continues to be the nation's first and only statewide single-gender coordinator. When he took the job, roughly 30 schools offered single-gender classes.

Other public school choice options that have expanded in the last couple of years include Montessori, online classes and evening high school.

Chadwell said he hopes the division can continue its efforts to promote public school options. Cuts to the agency itself are expected to lead to 70 additional layoffs, after about 90 this year; 100 vacancies will remain unfilled.

"We're not federally funded, and we're not a state mandate," Chadwell said.

A $5 billion spending plan approved by the House on Thursday would cut funding to school districts an additional 6 percent, returning state spending on teacher salaries to 1995 levels. Districts must fill the gap somehow.

There are already 1,000 fewer teachers this school year compared to 2008-09.