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´óÏó´«Ã½ First Steps, the state’s public-private partnership for early childhood services, announced today that Ann Vandervliet has been named as its new executive director.

At the beginning of the 2023-24 school year, the KRA was administered to 53,354 incoming kindergartners across ´óÏó´«Ã½, according to the ´óÏó´«Ã½ Education Oversight Committee.

As the owner and director of EduScholars Learning Center in Lake City, SC, Deon Cooper is dedicated to fostering a supportive and positive environment for his staff and students. He aims to empower every child to become a lifelong learner, excelling in all aspects of their lives. This month, we recognize Deon Cooper as a First Steps 4K Leader for his exceptional contributions to early childhood education.

Certain experiences or conditions are associated with educational disadvantage upon entry into kindergarten. The ´óÏó´«Ã½ First Steps Board of Trustees has identified a set of risk factors as those most likely to affect school readiness.

The First Steps 4K Provider Survey was administered in Fall 2023. Here is what we learned from our leaders and teachers about their experience as a First Steps 4K provider.

The annual First Steps 4K Family Survey was administered to parents/caregivers in Spring 2024. Hear from parents about the benefits they have seen for their family as a result of their child’s participation in First Steps 4K.

Over 600 families enrolled in Parents as Teachers across ´óÏó´«Ã½ provided feedback on their experience in the program. Parents and caregivers share their perspective on how the program supports them as their child’s first teacher.

On Monday, August 26, 2024, York Technical College unveiled two essential new services that reflect its commitment to breaking down barriers to education and supporting the community.

From shy beginnings to confidently walking into her first day of school, Malia's journey highlights the importance of early preparation and the power of encouragement. Malia is one of almost 2,000 children who participated in our Countdown to Kindergarten programs this summer.