South Carolina First Steps to School Readiness (SCFS) is both a nonprofit and state agency and is the only dedicated comprehensive early childhood agency in South Carolina focused on getting children ready for school and life success. We serve more than 30,000 children in 81 school districts across 46 counties.

At our core, we are a children and family-first organization. We work to support the success of all kids from birth through age five by serving families, their communities, and early childhood education providers.

Established in 1999 by the South Carolina General Assembly to close the gap in students’ preparedness for success in school, South Carolina First Steps takes a holistic approach to accomplishing our mission of preparing all kids for success in school, work, and life, offering services that improve children’s health, strengthen families, expand access to quality child care, increase participation in four-year-old kindergarten (4K) programs and help transition rising kindergartners into school.