News & Resources

This April 4, the Early Childhood Advisory Council (ECAC) invites South Carolinians to learn about the state's publicly funded preschool programs by visiting palmettoprek.org. Each year in April, Palmetto Pre-K Enrollment Day focuses attention on the importance of early education in preparing children for school and life success.

In observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, South Carolina First Steps today kicked off a statewide reading event for young children. The kick-off event, held at Edventure Children’s Museum, marks the beginning of the agency’s MLK Week of Service, which is organized annually by the First Steps AmeriCorps program.

South Carolina First Steps has awarded competitive grants totaling $763,270 to expand early childhood programs and services that promote healthy development and prepare children for success in school.

This story is part of a blog series by AmeriCorps VISTA Michelle Maxberry. As part of her year of full-time service at South Carolina First Steps, Michelle is gathering and sharing stories of young children, families, and communities served by local First Steps nonprofits across the state.

Across the state, First Steps offers a range of programs that help families raise children to be healthy, safe, learning, and ready for school. Rushell’s story is a testament to life-changing impact these programs can have, turning challenges into triumphs and forging brighter futures for young families.

Parents as Teachers, the nation’s most replicated home visiting, early childhood development, and parenting education program, has appointed Georgia Mjartan, executive director of South Carolina First Steps and the South Carolina Early Childhood Advisory Council (ECAC), to its national Board of Directors where she will serve a three-year term.

Namarta and Veer's story is the first in blog series by AmeriCorps VISTA Michelle Maxberry. As part of her year of full-time service at South Carolina First Steps, Michelle will be gathering and sharing stories of young children, families, and communities served by local First Steps nonprofits across the state.

Certain experiences or conditions are associated with educational disadvantage upon entry into kindergarten. The South Carolina First Steps Board of Trustees has identified a set of risk factors as those most likely to affect school readiness.

Understanding First Steps' purpose and its relationship with the Early Childhood Advisory Council is key to envisioning our goals.