First Steps 4K offers free, full-day four-year-old kindergarten to qualifying children in South Carolina. We partner with more than 270 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.
Families can select the private, community-based, or faith-based program of their choice. All First Steps 4K programs are in-person, 5 days per week, throughout the school year. Most providers offer a full day (8 hour) program and/or operate year-round, continuing through summer.
Find a Program
Research shows that children who attend a high-quality preschool program are more successful in kindergarten and beyond. First Steps 4K aims to increase participation, quality, and professional development in private, community-based, and faith-based 4K programs across the state.
3,343
children served with the First Steps 4K program in 2021-2022
251
approved First Steps 4K program providers in 2021-2022
Early Care & Education
Quality EnhancementIntensive support to child care centers, Head Start and preschool classrooms to improve quality
Early Care & Education
Quality CountsQuality Counts is a community-based child care quality improvement strategy, designed to build and sustain high quality in early care and education programs.
Early Care & Education
Child Care ScholarshipsEligible children receive tuition-free enrollment at quality child care centers
Early Care & Education
Child CareProviding local families with access to high-quality early care and education.
Early Care & Education
Early Head StartNationally, Early Head Start programs serve over 160,000 children and pregnant women annually.
Early Care & Education
Training and Professional DevelopmentCertified and registered training hours for the early childhood workforce
Early Care & Education
Enhanced Early EducationThe Enhanced Early Education strategy seeks to enhance education services offered by early childhood classrooms.
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