Child Care & Early Education

Check Eligibility

Find out which services you’re eligible for.

Find a Provider

Look for child care, preschool, and other services in your area.

Need More Help?

Our partners can guide you through the process.

Young child smiling while laying on floor mat in front of box of blocks in child care center classroom

Need help paying for child care so you can work?

We can connect families to child care scholarships that help parents afford high quality child care while they work, train for a job, or go to school. See if you qualify and how you can find care that fits your family’s needs.

Child Care Scholarships

Programs and Services

SC Working Families Child Care Scholarship

Parents with income at or below 85% of the state's median income may be eligible for scholarships to pay for child care while they work or attend school.

Public School 4K

Local school districts offer many options for public school 4K, and eligibility is based on income, Medicaid eligibility, developmental readiness, and other factors based on each district’s PreK offerings.

Head Start

Care, activities, and lunch are provided free to children ages 3 and 4 who are from families with income at or below the poverty level.

Early Head Start

Free child care and parenting support are provided for eligible children age 3 and under, pregnant women, and their families.

First Steps 4K+

Choose a free, full-day 4K program in a licensed child care center, charter school or private school. Plus, get child care scholarships for the whole family.

SC Child Care Resource & Referral

Parents and caregivers can search for childcare in their area and learn how to apply for financial help.

Countdown To Kindergarten

This free summer program helps children get ready for kindergarten and eases worries they or their family may have.

Countdown To 4K

Countdown to 4K supports strong school transitions by connecting children entering preschool, families, and teachers in a series of one-on-one visits during the summer. 

First Steps Child Care Scholarships

Children age 5 and under may be eligible for scholarships that let them go to quality child care centers tuition-free.

Library Based Programs

Local librarians visit families, childcare programs, and preschools to bring books, share stories, and interest children in reading.

Early Learning and Literacy

The Office of Early Learning and Literacy at the SC Dept. of Education works with school districts, teachers, communities, and families to provide resources to help every child succeed in school. 

Allendale-Fairfax Elementary PreK 3

Allendale County School District offers PreK 3 within the school district.

Allendale-Fairfax Elementary School PreK 4

Allendale County School District offers PreK 4 within the school district.

Williamsburg School District 4K CERDEP

Williamsburg County School District offers Pre-Kindergarten programs within the school district.

York School District 1: 4 Year-Old CERDEP Program

York School District 1 offers 4K programs at all elementary schools within the district.

Beaufort County School District Pre-Kindergarten

The Beaufort County School District offers Pre-Kindergarten programs at all elementary schools and early childhood centers.

Beaufort County School District Traveling Preschool Bus

Visit the Traveling Preschool Bus and discover what parents and caregivers need to know about school readiness.