First Steps 4K

First Steps 4K offers free four-year-old kindergarten to qualifying children in South Carolina. We partner with more than 250 private, nonprofit, and faith-based centers across the state, making it easy for families to find a high-quality program that meets their needs.

Check Eligibility

Check to see if your child is eligible for the First Steps 4K program

Find a Program

Find a First Steps 4K Program near you

Apply Now

Submit an application to enroll in the First Steps 4K program

Eligibility

For the 2022-23 school year, a child must be:

4 years old on September 1, 2022
Eligible for Medicaid, free/reduced-price lunch, or SNAP/TANF recipient; experiencing homelessness or transiency; or in foster care
A resident of South Carolina
Siblings of four-year-olds enrolled in the First Steps 4K program now qualify for child care scholarships thanks to a partnership between SC First Steps and the SC Department of Social Services. Learn more here.

First Steps 4K PLUS

First Steps 4K students qualify for free extended care (before- and after-school)
Siblings, ages 0-12, of enrolled First Steps 4K students qualify for child care and after-school scholarships
Sibling scholarships can be applied toward enrollment at any licensed child care center or afterschool program that participates in ABC Quality, the state’s voluntary quality rating and improvement system.
Families can apply online for both First Steps 4K and First Steps 4K + Siblings at Free4KSC.org.
Learn more here!

Check Eligibility

How It Works

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

Target Outcomes

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.

Community Impact

3,481

children served with the First Steps 4K program in 2019-2020

212

approved First Steps 4K program providers in 2019-2020

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Quality Counts is a community-based child care quality improvement strategy, designed to build and sustain high quality in early care and education programs.