PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — A state official says the federal government has approved South Dakota's request to have the Board of Regents manage a college-readiness grant under scrutiny after an apparent murder-suicide.

Tony Venhuizen is chief of staff to Gov. Dennis Daugaard. Venhuizen says the U.S. Department of Education has notified the state of the approved change.

The GEAR UP grant aims to improve Native American college readiness in South Dakota. Its future had been uncertain since the state declined to renew its contract with Mid-Central Educational Cooperative for program administration.

Authorities believe Mid-Central employee Scott Westerhuis shot his wife and four children last month before shooting himself. That was just hours after the state informed Mid-Central it was losing its most recent contract.

A federal Education Department spokesman didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.

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