First Steps 4K offers free four-year-old kindergarten to qualifying children in South Carolina. We partner with more than 200 private, nonprofit, and faith-based centers across the state, making it easy for families to find a high-quality program that meets their needs.
Siblings, ages 0 to 12, are now eligible for child care and after-school scholarships for up to 52 weeks. Learn more here.
Families can select the private, community-based, or faith-based program of their choice. All First Steps 4K programs are in-person, 5 days per week, throughout the school year. Most providers offer a full day (8 hour) program and/or operate year-round, continuing through summer.
Find a Program
Research shows that children who attend a high-quality preschool program are more successful in kindergarten and beyond. First Steps 4K aims to increase participation, quality, and professional development in private, community-based, and faith-based 4K programs across the state.
3,481
children served with the First Steps 4K program in 2019-2020
212
approved First Steps 4K program providers in 2019-2020
Early Care & Education
Quality EnhancementIntensive support to child care centers, Head Start and preschool classrooms to improve quality
Early Care & Education
Quality CountsQuality Counts is a community-based child care quality improvement strategy, designed to build and sustain high quality in early care and education programs.
Early Care & Education
Child Care ScholarshipsEligible children receive tuition-free enrollment at quality child care centers
Early Care & Education
Child CareProviding local families with access to high-quality early care and education.
Early Care & Education
Early Head StartNationally, Early Head Start programs serve over 160,000 children and pregnant women annually.
Early Care & Education
Training and Professional DevelopmentCertified and registered training hours for the early childhood workforce
