News & Resources

The Carolina Collaborative for Early Childhood Innovation (CC4ECI) is a funding model designed to provide resources for First Steps local partnership to implement and test innovative programs for children and families in their community. Through innovative programming and iterative feedback loops, local partnerships will identify what works, for whom, and in what conditions.

Research has demonstrated evidence of the impact for various early childhood interventions. However, circumstances, conditions, and communities exist where evidence-based programs are not as effective in meeting the needs of children and families. Developing funding models that encourage and evaluate innovation can generate evidence for the effectiveness of early childhood interventions that are tailored to unique community conditions.

South Carolina First Steps, the state’s public-private partnership for early childhood services, announced today that Ann Vandervliet has been named as its new executive director.

At the beginning of the 2023-24 school year, the KRA was administered to 53,354 incoming kindergartners across South Carolina, according to the South Carolina Education Oversight Committee.

As the owner and director of EduScholars Learning Center in Lake City, SC, Deon Cooper is dedicated to fostering a supportive and positive environment for his staff and students. He aims to empower every child to become a lifelong learner, excelling in all aspects of their lives. This month, we recognize Deon Cooper as a First Steps 4K Leader for his exceptional contributions to early childhood education.

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.

The First Steps 4K Provider Survey was administered in Fall 2023. Here is what we learned from our leaders and teachers about their experience as a First Steps 4K provider.

The annual First Steps 4K Family Survey was administered to parents/caregivers in Spring 2024. Hear from parents about the benefits they have seen for their family as a result of their child’s participation in First Steps 4K.

Over 600 families enrolled in Parents as Teachers across South Carolina provided feedback on their experience in the program. Parents and caregivers share their perspective on how the program supports them as their child’s first teacher.