General

Pre-kindergarten Initiative in 2013-14:
South Carolina Child Development Education Pilot Program (CDEPP)

State agency with administrative authority over pre-K:
Office of Teacher Effectiveness, S.C. First Steps1

Availability of program:
47 out of 83 school districts (57%)2

Are districts, counties, or towns in South Carolina required to offer this pre-kindergarten initiative?
No, optional2

Hours of operation per day:
School day, 6.5 hours/day

Is there a formal partnership at the state level to provide extended day services through collaboration with other agencies and programs?
No

Enrollment

Fall 2013, Total children:
7,985

Fall 2011, by age:
7,985 4-year-olds3

Fall 2011, by type of administering agency:
Public schools, 6,885; Nonpublic schools, 1,100

Program enrollment, Fall 2013, by operating schedule:
School day, 7,985

Eligibility

Minimum age for eligibility:
4 by September 1

Maximum age for eligibility:
Locally determined

Kindergarten eligibility age:
5 by September 1

Does state policy allow any exceptions to the age requirement for prekindergarten or kindergarten eligibility?
Yes4

State policy on enrolling children in state pre-K when they are eligible for kindergarten:
Kindergarten age-eligible children with documented disabilities may enroll in pre-K; Kindergarten age-eligible children may enroll in pre-K at local program’s discretion; Kindergarten age-eligible children may enroll in pre-K and repeat the 4-year-old pre-K year

Aside from age, how is eligibility determined for individual children for this state prekindergarten initiative?
Eligibility is determined by individual child or family characteristics in addition to age

What was the state-specified income requirement during the 2013-14 program year?
Eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, or 185% FPL

To whom, or to what percentage of children, does the income requirement apply?
All children.

Is there a sliding payment scale based on income?
No

Is child eligibility for this state prekindergarten initiative ever reassessed after a child has been enrolled in the program?
No

Risk Factors

Risk factors besides income that can be used to determine eligibility:
Child disability or developmental delay; Homelessness or unstable housing; Child history of foster care; Other state-specified risk factors: Child receiving Medicaid services5

How many of the specified risk factors must be present for eligibility?
15

How do these risk factors relate to the income cutoff for the state pre-K program?
Meeting the income cutoff can count as one of the risk factors

Class Sizes

Maximum class size:
4-year-olds, 20

Staff-child ratio requirement:
4-year-olds, 1 to 10

Teachers

Minimum teacher degree requirement:
BA (public); AA (nonpublic)7

Required teacher certification, licensure, and/or endorsement:
Public: ECE (Pre-K – 2nd Grades)

Education level of teachers during 2011-12 by percent:
Breakdown not available

Education level of teachers during 2011-12 totals:
Breakdown not available7

Teacher in-service requirement:
15 clock hours per year

Minimum assistant teacher degree requirement:
HSD or Equivalent (public and nonpublic)8

Assistant teacher specialized training requirement:
Public: ECD 101 (4K) (Only in public settings); Nonpublic: ECD 101 (4K)8

Services

Meal requirement:
Breakfast; Lunch

Support services for English Language Learners and families:
Bilingual non-English classes are permitted in pre-K6

Support services required for all programs:
Parenting support or training; Parent involvement activities; Child health services; Transition to K activities; Parent conferences and/or home visits; Other support services locally determined

 

Regulations

Screening and referral requirements:
Required: Vision; Hearing; Immunizations; Developmental; Locally determined: Height/Weight/BMI; Blood pressure; Psychological/Behavioral; Full physical exam; Dental; Other

State’s early learning standards document in 2013-14.
South Carolina Good Start, Grow Smart Early Learning Standards

For more information about the early learning standards in 2013-14:
ttp://ed.sc.gov/agency/programs-services/64/documents/EarlyLearningGoodStart.pdf

Funding

Days per week the state prekindergarten initiative is funded to operate using state funds:
5 days per week

Annual operating schedule for this state-funded prekindergarten initiative:
Academic year

Actual fiscal year 2014 spending for this state prekindergarten initiative:
$34,324,427

All funding sources:
State, $34,324,4379

State funding sources and amounts:
Education Improvement Act, $34,324,4379

Federal funding sources and amounts:
None

Is funding for this state prekindergarten initiative determined by a school funding or state aid formula?
No

Agencies eligible to receive funding directly:
Public schools, Other settings: SC First Steps

Agencies with which subcontracting is permitted:
Public schools, Head Start, Private CC, Faith-based centers

Is there a required local match for this program?
No

Select a state program to view details.


South Carolina | CDEPP Footnotes

  1. SC Department of Education provides oversight for public schools and the SC First Steps provides oversight to private child care programs.
  2. Those districts involved in the 2006 funding lawsuit are required to offer CDEPP. Funding was expanded to include 14 additional school districts
  3. Enrollment includes estimate of 1100 children served through First Steps in private/community settings. Enrollment figures are as of the 135th day of school, spring 2013.
  4. Exact breakdown unknown
  5. There are exceptions for kindergarten-age eligible children with disabilities in limited instances to enroll in pre-K.
  6. Income eligibility for Medicaid and/or free or reduced-price lunch are the primary criteria for eligibility. If classes are not full, developmental delay can be considered.
  7. Programs are required to screen and assess all children; A home language survey is sent home at the beginning of the school year; Information must be presented to parents in their primary language; A systematic, written plan must be in place on how to work with English Language Learners
  8. Parenting support or training; Parent involvement activities; Child health services; Transition to K activities; Parent conferences and/or home visits; Other support services locally determined
  9. Lead teachers in nonpublic settings must have at least a two-year degree in early childhood education or a related field and must be enrolled in and demonstrating progress toward the completion of a teacher education program within four years. A large percentage of lead teachers in nonpublic settings have a BA or higher.
  10. Assistant teachers are required to complete the early childhood development credential within 12 months of hire. Districts may request waivers to the assistant teacher specialization requirement if assistant teachers have been working in early childhood for a number of years.
  11. State spending from the general fund is the appropriated amount rather than actual spending
  12. Legislation passes to evaluate program for 2014-15 school year.
  13. Programs choose from an approved list: WSS, GOLD, High Scope’s COR, Galileo PreK online assessment, Learning Accomplishment Profile.
  14. Dial 3 or Dial 4 is used as a screening tool. CDEPP Sites are required to select an assessment from the following list: WWS, GOLD, High Scope’s COR, Galileo PreK online assessment, Learning Accomplishment Profile.
  15. New legislation will require a Readiness Assessment be administered to all 4K and 5K students in 2014-15