General
Pre-kindergarten Initiative in 2013-14:
South Carolina Half-Day Child Development Program (4K)
State agency with administrative authority over pre-K:
Office of Teacher Effectiveness
Availability of program:
47 out of 83 school districts (57%)1
Are districts, counties, or towns in South Carolina required to offer this pre-kindergarten initiative?
Required for all1
Hours of operation per day:
Part day, 2.5 hours/day3
Is there a formal partnership at the state level to provide extended day services through collaboration with other agencies and programs?
No3
Enrollment
Fall 2013, Total children:
19,441
Fall 2011, by age:
Breakdown not available1
Fall 2011, by type of administering agency:
Public schools, 18,241; Nonpublic schools, 1,200
Program enrollment, Fall 2013, by operating schedule:
Breakdown not available3
Eligibility
Minimum age for eligibility:
4 by September 1
Maximum age for eligibility:
5 by September 1
Kindergarten eligibility age:
5 by September 1
Does state policy allow any exceptions to the age requirement for prekindergarten or kindergarten eligibility?
No
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; Low parental education level; History of abuse, neglect, or family violence; Homelessness or unstable housing; Non-English speaking family members; Parental substance abuse; Risk that child will not be ready for kindergarten; Teen parent; Low birth weight or other child health risk; Child history of foster care; Parental active military duty
How many of the specified risk factors must be present for eligibility?
1 or more
How do these risk factors relate to the income cutoff for the state pre-K program?
Children must have one or more risk factors in addition to meeting the income cutoff
Class Sizes
Maximum class size:
3- and 4-year-olds, 20
Staff-child ratio requirement:
3- and 4-year-olds, 1 to 10
Teachers
Minimum teacher degree requirement:
BA (public); AA (nonpublic)
Required teacher certification, licensure, and/or endorsement:
Public: EC (4K – 3rd Grade); EC Endorsement (4K-3rd Grade);(Only in public settings)
Education level of teachers during 2011-12 by percent:
Breakdown not available
Education level of teachers during 2011-12 totals:
Breakdown not available
Teacher in-service requirement:
6 credit hours per every 5 years
Minimum assistant teacher degree requirement:
HSD or Equivalent (public and nonpublic)
Assistant teacher specialized training requirement:
None
Services
Meal requirement:
Snack
Support services for English Language Learners and families:
Bilingual non-English classes are permitted in pre-K; Monolingual non-English classes are permitted in pre-K; Programs are required to screen and assess all children
Support services required for all programs:
Parenting support or training; Parent involvement activities; Child health services; Referral for social services; Transition to K activities; Parent conferences and/or home visits; Other support services locally determined
Regulations
Screening and referral requirements:
Required: Immunizations; Locally determined: Vision; Hearing; Height/Weight/BMI; Blood pressure; Psychological/Behavioral; Full physical exam; Developmental; Dental; Other4
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:
http://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:
$15,513,846
All funding sources:
State, $15,513,8465
State funding sources and amounts:
State Education Improvment Act, $15,513,846
Federal funding sources and amounts:
None
Is funding for this state prekindergarten initiative determined by a school funding or state aid formula?
Yes6
Agencies eligible to receive funding directly:
Public schools
Agencies with which subcontracting is permitted:
Public schools
Is there a required local match for this program?
No