SC early childhood education funding secured with new law signed by Gov. McMaster

South Carolina has solidified permanent funding for early childhood education, a noted need in a state that’s historically struggled with poor education outcomes, marked by Gov. Henry McMaster signing the First Steps bill into law Thursday afternoon.

First Steps is a nonprofit organization that’s funded both publicly and privately and works across a broad spectrum to ensure success for early childhood education and care. The program has existed for 24 years on and off, but it was never permanent until now, with state funding solidified by the new law.

South Carolina First Steps Executive Director, Georgia Mjartan has been pushing for the funding to become permanent for years.Until now, funding for the program had to be reauthorized numerous times.

First Steps provides in-home assistance to new or struggling parents and assistance to childcare centers and pediatric clinics to help spot concerns early. The organization also administers the state’s free First Steps 4K pre-kindergarten program for 4-year-olds in private settings.

Under the new law, the state will match funding with what is raised locally, in addition to recurring funding from the state budget.

State Rep. Stewart Jones, R-Laurens, sponsored the bill and spoke at the signing ceremony, applauding the efforts by Mjartan and the organizations leaders. He and Mjartan were surrounded by a group of young children who stood in front of the podium and ran back and forth from the audience while they spoke.

Mjartan said a great deal of energy and collaboration goes into the program. Last year, she said, First Steps helped more than 57,000 children. In essence, it was a pilot, or experiment for two decades to see what would happen when the government tapped into local communities, she said.

“The answer is clear: Our children will thrive,” Mjartan said.

McMaster said the bill will make things “even better” for children in South Carolina.

“We have to make sure we educate, we take care of the those young people,” McMaster said.

McMaster added that there is “great potential” in the state, but it is a necessity to educate everyone.

After he signed the bill, each child at the ceremony took a chance to sit in the chair he had signed the bill in and hold the pen next to the bill, while parents and supporters snapped pictures as they rotated around the table.

This story was originally published August 10, 2023 at 4:37 PM.