South Carolina First Steps partners with licensed child care centers, private schools and charter schools to provide high-quality four-year-old kindergarten programs that prepare South Carolina's children for success in kindergarten and beyond.
When you partner with First Steps 4K, you become part of our mission to ensure that all children start school ready to reach their highest potential. In return, we provide the funding, resources, and support you and your staff need to meet our high-quality standards. The benefits include:
Are you a DSS-licensed center-based, child care provider, a non-profit independent school, or a public charter school? If so, you may be eligible to partner with First Steps 4K and offer the 4K program through our state’s Child Early Reading and Development Education Program (CERDEP) funding.
Join Martha Strickland, our 4K State Director, and the First Steps 4K Team to discover how you can expand access to high-quality, curriculum-based pre-K for families throughout South Carolina.
Choose your interest session date and register using one of the links below:
Wednesday, December 18, 10:00 - 11:30 a.m.
Tuesday, January 7, 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Feel free to reach out to Samantha Ingram, 4K Engagement Coordinator, for additional information about becoming a First Steps 4K provider.
All private (non-school district) preschool providers interested in participating in the SC Child Early Reading Development and Education Program (CERDEP) are encouraged to attend an interest session and complete a New Provider application this fall.
All applicants are required to participate in a First Steps 4K New Provider Interest session. It is also important that you familiarize yourself with the requirements outlined in the First Steps 4K Guidelines.
Schools can now apply to partner with First Steps 4K for the 2025-2026 school year. Please complete the First Steps 4K New Provider Application HERE.
Feel free to reach out to Samantha Ingram, 4K Engagement Coordinator, for additional information about becoming a First Steps 4K provider.
$20K
Grant funding available for materials and supplies
90
Number of hours of free, high-quality professional development for teachers
$8K
Value of provided research-based curircula, materials and trainings
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