South Carolina is home to nearly 340,000 children under age 6, many of whom face significant barriers to their early school success. As the state’s school readiness agency, First Steps is making a difference in preparing children for school, identifying and serving those most at-risk first. According to the agency's 2006 external evaluation, First Steps is succeeding in targeting the state’s “most vulnerable families.”
DID YOU KNOW ...
Nearly 1 in 4 South Carolina children is born to a mother with less than a high school diploma. According to recent analyses, nearly half (48%) of these children experience some form of early school failure (grade level retention and/or failing standardized tests) by the 3rd grade.
DID YOU KNOW ...
1 in 5 South Carolina children receives food stamps on the basis of family income. According to recent analyses, 42% of these children experience some form of early school failure (grade level retention and/or failing standardized tests) by the 3rd grade.
To learn more about school readiness risk factors and their prevalence in South Carolina communities, view the full presentation below: