South Carolina
Policy Strategies & Innovations Link copied!
| Innovation Name | Innovation Type | Innovation Subtype | Features at a Glance | Strategy Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Carolina State Sales Tax | Dedicated Funding Streams | Sales Tax | In 2021, this sales tax was a source of over $50 million in funding for pre-K |
In 1984, South Carolina enacted the Education Improvement Act, which dedicates 1 percent of state sales taxes to education programs, including grants to its pre-K program for four-year-olds. In 2021, the state dedicated over $50 million from sales tax funds to expand pre-K services. learn more: south carolina encyclopediaSources: South Carolina State House. (2019). Executive Budget State of South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster. Education Commission of the States. (2018). How States Fund Pre-K. |
| South Carolina Early Childhood Integrated Data System | Infrastructure Systems | Data Systems | Early Childhood Integrated Data System |
The South Carolina Early Childhood Advisory Council's Data Governance Work Group has hosted the SC Early Childhood Integrated Data System (ECIDS)since its creation in 2018. ECIDS currently linking data on early childhood programs and services provided to children under 6 in the state on two specific initiatives. First, the South Carolina Early Learning Extension is adding early childhood services data (e.g., Head Start Grantees, Child Development Education Pilot Program, Vouchers, etc.) from multiple agencies and programs (e.g., The Department of Social Services, Department of Education, First Steps, and Head Start) and the state’s K-12 Statewide Longitudinal Data System through unique identifiers. Second, using data from South Carolina’s Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office, the Palmetto Drive to Five Data Dashboard is linking individual data on services for children and families (e.g., Medicaid, SNAP, TANF, Head Start, and First Steps) to create an unduplicated count of children across agencies. The ECIDS data linking system will eventually become a warehouse that stores consolidated data. The system was created by legislation in 2018 under §63-11-1725, and is funded by federal grants, including the Statewide Longitudinal Data Systems (SLDS) Grant and Preschool Development Grant–Birth Through 5 (PDG B-5). Learn More: SC Early Childhood Integrated Data SystemSources: |
Demographics Link copied!
State population
5,282,634 Source U.S. Census, 2022
Rural %
32.1% Source U.S. Census, 2020
Urban %
67.9% Source U.S. Census, 2020
Number of children age 0-4
282,964 Source KIDS COUNT, 2021
Poverty levels – children 0-8 below 200% poverty
44% Source KIDS COUNT, 2021
Median family income among households with children
$71,900.00 Source KIDS COUNT, 2021
Unemployment rate
3.3% Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, December 2022
Unemployment rate of parents
3% Source KIDS COUNT, 2021
Children under age 6 with all available parents in the labor force
68% Source KIDS COUNT, 2021
Children living in households with a high housing cost burden
25% Source KIDS COUNT, 2021
Political Landscape Link copied!
| Year | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Governor | R | R | R | R | R |
| House | R | R | R | R | R |
| Senate | R | R | R | R | R |
Early Childhood Education Programs Link copied!
Public pre-K program name
Education Improvement Act Child Development Program (EIA 4K) Source: NIEER 2023
Public pre-K program name
Child Early Reading Development and Education Program (CERDEP) Source: NIEER 2023
Universal or targeted pre-K policy
Targeted Pre-K Policy (4-Year-Olds) Source: NIEER 2023
Universal or targeted pre-K policy
Targeted Pre-K Policy (4-Year-Olds) Source: NIEER 2023
Percent of 3-Year-Old Children Enrolled in Public Early Childhood Education Programs Source 2021
Programs
- 3-year-old children enrolled in state-funded public pre-K (0.40%)
- 3-year-old children enrolled in Head Start (12%)
- Other/none (87.6%)
Percent of 4-Year-Old Children Enrolled in Public Early Childhood Education Programs Source 2021
Programs
- 4-year-old children enrolled in state-funded public pre-K (43%)
- 4-year-old children enrolled in Head Start (6%)
- Other/none (51%)
Workforce Link copied!
2017–2019 Median Hourly Wages Source CSCCE 2018, 2020
Role
- Child care workers
- Preschool teachers
- Preschool or child care center directors
Funding Sources Link copied!
Funding acronyms: CCDBG: Child Care and Development Block Grant; CARES Act: Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act; CRRSE Act: Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations; ARPA: American Rescue Plan Act; CCDF: Child Care and Development Fund; MIECHV: Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program; IDEA: Individuals with Disabilities Education Act; TANF: Temporary Assistance for Needy Families
The COVID Funding Cliff
All federal COVID relief allocations, including funding authorized by the CARES, CRRSE, and ARPA bills, must be fully spent by September 2024. An analysis from the Century Foundation shows this loss of funds could cause more than 3 million children to lose access to child care nationwide – including more than 49,000 children in South Carolina.