South Carolina First Steps @SCFirstSteps

Today is Give Like Dolly Day! 9-to-5 ⏰🎶 You can help even more children grow up with the joy of books and reading by designating your #GiveLikeDolly donation to a First Steps Local Partnership near you! gcld.co/ZyGz4lg

@CareersSCGov Thank you for sharing, @SCCareers!

If you’re a strategic leader who enjoys turning vision into strong systems, developing people, and building the capacity of local partners to serve their communities, we’d love to hear from you. Here's what you'll do: Lead Operations & Teams: Oversee program and compliance staff to ensure statewide alignment, consistency, and adherence to statutory mandates. Manage Grants & Compliance: Lead the annual comprehensive grant application, award review, and contract monitoring processes. Provide Strategic Support: Guide local leadership through operational transitions, strategic planning, community needs assessments, and data reporting. Build Capacity: Design and deliver continuous training for Executive Directors, board members, and staff via live sessions and our Learning Management System (LMS). Ready to elevate local leadership and strengthen communities across the state? Apply today or tag a leader in your network! bit.ly/4gXeZHq

Happy International Literacy Day! Today, we celebrate the power of reading and education to transform lives across the globe. #InternationalLiteracyDay

Happy Labor Day! In observance of this day, the offices at South Carolina First Steps will be closed on September 7th. We will reopen for regular business hours on September 8th. #HappyLaborDay

First Steps 4K Eligibility is Expanded! Families with children who will be 4 on or before Sept. 1, 2026, with family income(s) below 300% FPL are now eligible for participation in First Steps 4K. For example, a family of four making $99,000 or less annually now qualifies. First Steps 4K provides high quality, FREE preschool in private childcare, charter schools, and private schools. Check out Free4KSC.org for open slots near you! NOTE: Parents who qualify under expanded eligibility (between 185% and 300% federal poverty level) do NOT qualify for 4K+ Sibling Scholarships.

Parents with children who will be 4 on or before Sept. 1, 2026 with family income(s) between 185% and 300% FPL are now eligible for participation in First Steps 4K. For example, a family of four making $99,000 annually or less now qualifies. First Steps 4K provides high quality, FREE preschool in private child care, charter schools, and private schools. Check out Free4KSC.org for open slots near you! NOTE: Parents who qualify under expanded eligibility do NOT qualify for 4K+ Sibling Scholarships.

Taking the first steps with a friend is the best way to start any adventure. From providing guidance and mentorship to becoming a trusted friend, we celebrate those who go above and beyond in supporting families and young children. Thank you for caring so deeply! #NationalFrienshipDay

Getting ready for kindergarten? Download our free Kindergarten Readiness Guide in English or Spanish. bit.ly/4wXJWSd

4K teachers in SC, it's not too late to register for the Palmetto Pre-K Jamboree! Don’t miss out on our fantastic presenter Marianne Gibbs, creator of Write Out of the Box® and registered occupational therapist, who will share a fun and fast-paced session on fine motor development, pencil grasp, and pre-writing by young children 3-6 years old. ➡️ Register today at palmettoprekjamboree.vfairs.com. #WeArePalmettoPreK #4KRocks #EarlyChildhoodEducation

South Carolina 4K teachers, have you registered for the Palmetto Pre-K Jamboree yet? Don't miss the fantastic starting line up! Lisa Murphy, M.Ed., early childhood specialist and founder and CEO of Ooey Gooey, Inc.®, will share an inspiring keynote about why we show up every day and do this important work. ➡️ Register today at palmettoprekjamboree.vfairs.com #wearepalmettoprek #4KRocks #earlychildhoodeducation

SC First Steps seeks an Executive Assistant to provide high-level, complex administrative and project management support to the Agency Director. This position requires exceptional communication skills; strong interpersonal capabilities; and proven ability to exercise a high degree of discretion, sound judgment, and initiative. Key Responsibilities Provides primary high-level support to the Agency Director, performing routine and complex duties to support the mission of the agency. Serves as the principal administrative liaison to the SC First Steps Board of Trustees and the Early Childhood Advisory Council. Manages complex schedules and calendaring, high-level correspondence, and special initiatives. Requires a bachelor's degree and a minimum of three to five (3-5) years of high-level administrative or executive support experience. Qualified candidates please apply here: bit.ly/458zewi.

Getting ready for kindergarten isn't just about ABCs and 123s. It's about building confidence, curiosity, and a love of learning. KindergartenReadySC.org helps South Carolina's children get ready for school. Learn more: bit.ly/44Yqrgg

Reading is a fun and easy way to cool off on a hot day! What books are you reading this summer? #StayCool #SummerReading #EarlyLiteracy

Happy Independence Day! The offices of South Carolina First Steps will be closed on Friday, July 3. We will reopen for regular business hours on Monday, July 6.

SC First Steps seeks a visionary, data-driven, and collaborative leader to serve as Chief of Early Learning. This new position will ensure the highest level of collaboration between all agencies offering publicly funded preschool in South Carolina. In partnership with multiple stakeholders, this leader will translate complex data and research to drive decision making, resource allocation, and timely implementation of continuous quality improvement goals. Key Responsibilities Strategic Leadership & Accountability: Oversee the First Steps 4K continuous quality strategy and budget to increase the number of children able to achieve “demonstrated readiness” on the state’s kindergarten readiness assessment. Continuous Quality Improvement: Lead collaboration to ensure strong infrastructure for a CLASS® driven CQI framework. Cross-Agency Collaboration: Partner with state leaders, legislators, and diverse stakeholders to ensure early learning investments achieve the right level of impact within the early childhood workforce. Qualified candidates please apply bit.ly/4feyz2g.

Thank you, @HVCWorks !

A landmark five-year study by Child Trends found that SC First Steps' Parents as Teachers home visiting program reduces child maltreatment, boosts kindergarten readiness, and strengthens parenting skills, especially for families enrolled longer. This Children's Awareness Month, we're proud to share what happens when we invest in families from the very beginning. Learn more at bit.ly/4baEJxR

Looking for a flexible, high-impact role in early childhood education? SC First Steps is seeking independent contractors to serve as 4K Success Monitors across from September to April. Conduct 45-minute classroom observations to help ensure high-quality preschool environments and set your own schedule. Compensation: Flat rate of $125 per documented observation. Flexibility: Self-select morning or afternoon assignments that fit your availability. Who is the ideal fit? • Retired Educators wanting to stay connected to the classroom. • Graduate Students (Education, Child Development, Social Work) looking for flexible, resume-building field experience. • Freelance Education Consultants looking to supplement their current portfolio. If you have a background in education, strong observation skills, and reliable transportation, we want to hear from you! How to Apply: Check out the detailed recruitment notice at bit.ly/3Sr8wfs and submit your resume and cover letter to [email protected].