Free 4-Year Kindergarten Slots Available

South Carolina First Steps continues to accept student applications for free 4-year-old kindergarten for the 2008-09 school year. Parents may contact any of nearly 70 providers statewide for detailed enrollment information, including:

Giggles and Wiggles Academy
726 N. Arant St., Pageland, SC 29728
(843) 672-3030

To qualify, your child must:

• Be 4 years old on or before Sept. 1, 2008.
  
• Be eligible for free/reduced lunch or Medicaid.
  
• Live in one of the following school districts: Abbeville, Allendale, Bamberg 1, Bamberg 2, Barnwell 19, Barnwell 29, Barnwell 45, Berkeley, Chesterfield, Clarendon 1, Clarendon 2, Clarendon 3, Dillon 1, Dillon 2, Dillon 3, Florence 1, Florence 2, Florence 3, Florence 4, Florence 5, Hampton 1, Hampton 2, Jasper, Laurens 55, Laurens 56, Lee, Lexington 4, Marion 1, Marion 2, Marion 7, Marlboro, McCormick, Orangeburg 3, Orangeburg 4, Orangeburg 5, Saluda or Williamsburg.

Parents are encouraged to contact 4K providers directly to receive detailed enrollment information. These 4K classes are made possible by the 4K Expansion Pilot approved in 2006 by the S.C. General Assembly. Expanded 4-year-old kindergarten classes are being offered for children living within the boundaries of the 37 school districts involved in the state school funding equity lawsuit. In 2005, a judge ruled that South Carolina needs to do more to ensure its youngest, neediest children have opportunities to reach kindergarten ready to learn.

To learn more or to see a complete list of providers statewide, call toll free 1-877-621-0865 or go to www.scfirststeps.org.