First Steps 4K

First Steps 4K offers free, full-day four-year-old kindergarten to qualifying children in South Carolina. We partner with more than 270 licensed child care centers and private schools across the state, making it easy for families to find a high-quality program that meets their needs.

To be eligible, a child must be:

4 years old on or before September 1 of the school year you are applying to.
Eligible for Medicaid, free/reduced-price lunch, or SNAP/TANF recipient; experiencing homelessness or transiency; or in foster care
A resident of South Carolina
Students and their siblings now qualify for child care scholarships thanks to a partnership between SC First Steps and the SC Department of Social Services.

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.

For more information, visit the First Steps Website