South Carolina 4K First Steps

4-Year-Old Kindergarten at Aspire Academy

First Steps 4K Program

We are thrilled to share our partnership with South Carolina First Steps 4-year-old Kindergarten program at our Columbia Academy. With this partnership, we are able to provide FREE educational services to ten children, in a small-group setting.

What’s even more exciting is that we provide a year-round program for our 4K students. Our program runs August – July, Monday-Friday from 9:00am – 3:30pm.

Space is limited to we and we expect these spots to fill up quickly.

Apply online at: www.Free4KSC.org

Required documents needed to apply: birth certificate, Medicaid card or proof of income, two proofs of residence, and SC immunization record.

The process: Once you complete your online application, the Academy will be notified of your approval and will call/email you with additional instructions. Please allow up to 14 days for the process to be completed.

To qualify for the 2021-2022 school year, your child must:

Be 4 years old on or before Sept. 1, 2021,
Be eligible for Medicaid, free- or reduced-price lunch program, SNAP/TANF recipient OR be experiencing homelessness, transiency, or in foster care.
Be a South Carolina Resident

For additional questions, you may contact the Academy Director:

Mrs. Jenni Timms – Office: 803-356-0650 Email: JenniT@AspireEarlyLearningAcademy.com

Aspire Academy also provides a discounted rate of $35.00 per week for our 4K families who need care before and after the program. Our hours of operation are 6:30am – 6:00pm.

Permanently established by the SC Read to Succeed Act in 2014, the SC Child Early Reading Development and Education Program (CERDEP) provides full-day four-year-old-kindergarten programs in 64 South Carolina school districts. Centers participating in a PILOT program for 2021-2022 may enroll 4K eligible students from the other 17 districts. Enrollment is offered at no cost to eligible children.

If you’re looking for additional information about preschool programs in South Carolina visit PalmettoPreK.org.

Eligibility Requirements

To qualify during the 2021 – 2022 school year, your child must:

Be 4 years old on or before Sept. 1, 2021,
Be eligible for the free- or reduced-price lunch program or Medicaid, AND
Live in one of the following school districts: Aiken, Abbeville, Allendale, Anderson 2, Anderson 5, Anderson 3, Bamberg 1, Bamberg 2, Barnwell 19, Barnwell 29, Barnwell 45, Berkeley, Calhoun, Cherokee, Chester, Chesterfield, Clarendon 1, Clarendon 2, Clarendon 3, Colleton, Darlington, Dillon 3, Dillon 4, Dorchester 4, Edgefield, Fairfield, Florence 1, Florence 2, Florence 3, Florence 4, Florence 5, Georgetown, Greenwood 50, Greenwood 51, Greenwood 52, Hampton 1, Hampton 2, Horry, Jasper, Kershaw, Laurens 55, Laurens 56, Lee, Lexington 2, Lexington 3, Lexington 4, Marion, Marlboro, McCormick, Newberry, Oconee, Orangeburg 3, Orangeburg 4, Orangeburg 5, Richland 1, Saluda, Spartanburg 3, Spartanburg 4, Spartanburg 6, Spartanburg 7, Sumter, Union, Williamsburg and York 1.
Your child may qualify if you live in one of these districts :Anderson 1, and 4, Beaufort, Charleston, Dorchester 2, Greenville, Lancaster, Lexington 1, Lexington/Richland 5, Pickens, Richland 2, Spartanburg 1, 2 and 5, and York 2, 3 and 4.

Recent changes in eligibility allow age and income eligible students living in those districts to enroll in the full day, tuition free First Steps 4K classes in our participating PILOT centers! Participating PILOT centers may serve eligible 4K students residing in all school districts of SC. Slots are limited in the identified PILOT centers

WHAT IS FIRST STEPS 4K PROGRAM AND HOW DOES IT BENEFIT MY CHILD?

SC First Steps Program is not day care or child care; but rather a full day four year old kindergarten program housed in faith based and private child care settings due to limited space in the districts public schools.

PURPOSE:

The SC First Steps to School Readiness partners with high-quality private for-profit, private non-profit, and other eligible providers to expend four year old kindergarten programs through the year. Programs will focus on the developmental and learning supports that children must have in order to be ready for school.

PROGRAM BENEFITS:

Long term gains in: Cognition, knowledge, Social & Independence skills, and motor skills. All of which leads to academic success.

DAYS AND TIMES OF SERVICE:

The 4K First Steps at Aspire Early Learning Academy will operate from 9:00am – 3:30pm. We will also provide students with a full academic year beginning August 16, 2021 and will operate through the summer, provide summer school to all enrolled students until July 31, 2022.

COST:

There is no cost to enroll in the free, full day 4K First Steps program between the hours of 9:00am – 3:30pm.

If you need before and/or after care, the weekly tuition fee is $35.00, which is submitted to Aspire Early Learning Academy.

TRANSPORTATION:

Unfortunately, we do not currently provide transportation at this Academy.