MONTGOMERY, Ala. – State officials say Alabama has spent more than $9 million in a long-running case over racial bias in the state's testing of new teachers.

State School Suprintendent Joe Morton said Thursday the money was spent on legal fees and for studies to make sure current tests are fair.

Federal Judge Myron Thompson dismissed the case Wednesday after no challenges were filed on the current test. But school officials said the cost to the state could grow because plaintiff's lawyers have 30 days to request more in attorney fees.

The case began in 1981 with a federal court suit. Gov. Bob Riley said the state should have gone to trial instead of entering into a consent decree that led in 1985 to an end to teacher testing for many years.