South Carolina First Steps to School Readiness is the state’s comprehensive early childhood education initiative. We exist to ensure South Carolina’s children are ready for school success.
Since our inception in 1999, First Steps has helped hundreds of thousands of young children prepare for school through programs that provide early intervention, strengthen families, improve children’s health and well-being, increase the quality of early care and education, and help transition rising kindergartners into school. Each South Carolina county is home to a First Steps Partnership responsible for meeting local needs and identifying collaborative opportunities to help our state’s youngest learners.