A Review of S.C. First Steps to School Readiness
June 2013

REPORT (PDF)    SUMMARY (PDF)

Members of the S.C. General Assembly asked the Legislative Audit Council to review the operation of South Carolina First Steps to School Readiness, a state government and private, nonprofit entity focused on early childhood development.

First Steps is a collection of programs that varies from county to county, which can be divided into five categories — family strengthening, early education, quality child care, health care, and school transitioning.

First Steps provides funding, technical assistance, and oversight to a network of 46 independent county partnerships. In FY 11-12, total expenditures by the state office were approximately $41 million.