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.
Tell us a little about your program and a member of the First Steps 4K team will be in touch. Take the first step in becoming a First Steps 4K partner by filling out the below interest form.
First Steps 4K partners with high-quality private for-profit, private non-profit, faith-based, and other eligible child care service providers to expand 4K programs throughout South Carolina. We support partners like you to get children ready for school with research-based practices, provide ongoing assessments, and supplemental parenting education.
Step 1: Attend an Interest Session.
All interested child care partners first attend an interest session to learn about the opportunities of providing a 4K classroom through our state’s Child Early Reading and Development Education Program (CERDEP) funding.
Step 2: Submit your First Steps 4K New Provider Application.
When you submit an application to become a First Steps 4K partner, you are confirming your interest in joining this network of child care providers throughout the state getting children ready for school.
Step 3: Meet with a First Steps 4K Manager & Coach.
Once your application has been reviewed - a meeting with your local First Steps manager and 4K Coach will be coordinated. At this meeting is when your program will be evaluated and assessed for partnership.
We are able to provide free tuition and free transportation door-to-door for families of four-year-olds who will eventually leave us and go to big school.
- Little Smurf Child Development Center, Andrews, SC
We’re able have a lending library for our students because of all the books provided by First Steps 4K. Not everybody has lots of books at home and with First Steps 4K, we’re not worried about the students returning them because we know we can receive as many as we need to serve our students.
- MEGA Child Development Center, Gilbert, SC
First Steps 4K is good at creating opportunities for further education such as on the MyTeachingStrategies program, Zoom training, DSS ProSolutions, Academy, etc. The staff is supportive when I have questions.
- Lead Teacher, Child Care Provider, Chester County
First Steps 4K is a wonderful program. They are good at training teachers. I also love that they use Conscious Discipline.
- Center Director, Child Care Provider, Horry County
First Steps 4K ensures that all children in the community start school ready to meet their highest potential with engaged support from their parents and caregivers.
- Center Director, Child Care Provider, York County
$10K
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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