A world-record Powerball jackpot and strong instant ticket sales led to a record transfer Tuesday of more than $200 million of earnings for education in North Carolina.

The transfer, totaling $200,796,933, resulted from lottery ticket sales in the third quarter of fiscal year 2016. The transfer brings total transfers for the fiscal year to $469.7 million.

“Our 10th year is shaping up to be another record-breaking year,” said Alice Garland, executive director of the N.C. Education Lottery. “We know we are going to surpass our goal for the year. The question now is how far beyond $529 million will our earnings go. Every one of those extra dollars will help make a difference for education in North Carolina.”

Garland attributed the strong ticket sales to the popularity of instant games, including the $30 Ultimate Millions game launched in September, and the record-setting Powerball jackpot in January.

After the first three quarters of the year, lottery ticket sales are up 21 percent, compared to the same eight months last year. New sales records include:

• $27.8 million in single day sales on Jan. 13
• $83 million in weekly sales the week of Jan. 3-9
• $275.8 million in monthly sales in January 2016
• $682.8 million for the third quarter, Jan. 1 through March 31.

So far, the lottery has managed to increase sales and increase earnings in each of its nine years. It has now raised more than $4.4 billion for education programs that provide benefits to every county in North Carolina.

This year, the lottery expects to exceed $2 billion in lottery ticket sales for the first time ever. It will be the third year in a row that earnings for education have exceeded half a billion dollars.