Child Care & Early Education
Quality care and early learning give babies, toddlers, and young children their best start, and help parents work and manage their busy lives too.
-
Early Head Start
Early Head Start programs support pregnant women and children from birth to age 3 through services that support early learning and development, health, and family well-being. Early Head Start staff actively engage parents, recognizing family participation throughout the program areas as key to strong child outcomes. Early Head Start services are available at no cost for eligible families whose household income is at/below the 100% of federal poverty guidelines.
-
Early Head Start Child Care Partnership
Early Head Start - Child Care (EHS-CC) Partnerships include private child care embracing the Head Start Comprehensive services serving children who are Head Start eligible. Support communities to expand high-quality early learning opportunities in the years before preschool. The partnerships work to increase the number of Early Head Start (EHS) programs and child care providers that can meet the highest standards of quality for infants and toddlers.
-
First Steps - Child Care Scholarships
Children age 5 and under may be eligible for scholarships that let them go to quality child care centers tuition-free.
-
First Steps - Countdown to Kindergarten
This free summer program helps children get ready for kindergarten and eases worries they or their family may have.
-
First Steps - Countdown to 4K
Teachers start Countdown to 4K by meeting with eligible families one-on-one for five sessions during the summer. Then as the first day of school gets closer, the teacher welcomes the child and family to the classroom for a visit before school begins. This free program helps children and parents understand what happens at 4K and the changes that 4K will bring. It's also designed to help children and families feel comfortable about this new experience.
-
First Steps 4K
First Steps 4K offers free, full-day four-year-old kindergarten to qualifying children in South Carolina. We partner with more than 250 licensed child care centers and private schools across the state, making it easy for families to find a high-quality program that meets their needs. First Steps 4K is publicly funded and curriculum-driven as part of the state's Child Early Reading Development and Education Program (CERDEP).
-
Head Start
Head Start, American Indian Head Start* and Migrant Head Start* provides comprehensive Pre-K education to children (ages 3 to 5) and focused services to the entire family whose household income is at/below the 100% of federal poverty guidelines. Head Start services are available at no cost for eligible families. Comprehensive services include the educational classroom experience for school readiness, medical, dental, nutrition, and other special needs services. NOTE: *Serves ages 0-5.
-
SC Department of Education Public School 4K - CERDEP - Child Early Reading and Development Education Program
Child Early Reading Development and Education Program (CERDEP) is a full day, four year old kindergarten program for at risk children which must be made available to qualified children in all public school districts within the State.
-
SC Department of Social Services Child Care Scholarships - Vouchers
The Child Care Scholarship program makes child care more affordable for families by making all or a portion of provider payments directly to child care providers so parents can work or attend school or training.