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First Steps News
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 31, 2006
[ link to pdf ]
First Steps to Recognize First
Private Preschool Provider Approved in 4K Expansion Pilot
Columbia, S.C. – First Steps announced today
that it will formally recognize Bishopville-Lee Child Care
Center in Lee County as the first private preschool provider
approved in the state’s 4K expansion pilot. The event
will be tomorrow (September 1st) at 10:30 a.m. at Bishopville-Lee
Child Care Center. The center is located at 118 East College
Street, Bishopville, SC 29010.
Invited guests include members of the General Assembly, county
council, city council, school board, and other local leaders.
Representing First Steps will be S.C. First Steps Deputy Director,
Dan Wuori, and Lee County First Steps Executive Director,
Alexis Pipkins, Sr.
Created by the S.C. General Assembly in June, the 4K expansion
pilot will expand high quality 4-year-old kindergarten in
both public and private settings. A total of 14 private preschools
have now been approved by S.C. First Steps for participation
in the pilot program. These private preschools can now identify
and approve income eligible 4-year-olds to enroll at their
centers.
The pilot targets children from plaintiff school districts
named in the state’s recent equity funding lawsuit.
In the four weeks since launching the program, First Steps
has received applications from more than 80 private, faith-based,
and Head Start providers in 23 South Carolina counties and
over 300 preschool providers have attended informational meetings
to learn more about the program. The final deadline for applications
is September 29, 2006.
A full list of approved providers and application materials
can be found on the S.C. First Steps webpage (www.scfirststeps.org/4K.htm).
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