CCFS: Board, Staff & Openings

Mission: To ensure opportunities for young children and their families in Chesterfield County so that every child enters school healthy and ready to learn.

Background

South Carolina First Steps to School Readiness was created in 1999 by the South Carolina General Assembly for the purpose of having every child in South Carolina arrive at kindergarten ready to learn. Each county has a local First Steps program.

Sadly, many South Carolina children possess one or more risk factors that put them at high risk (greater than a 1 in 3 chance) for “early school failure” – either being retained or scoring below grade level in reading or math – by third grade.

Each local First Steps agency works to accomplish its mission as a private non-profit organization led by a board of early childhood stakeholders. With a modest recurring appropriation of state funding, First Steps leverages cash and in-kind resources at the federal, state and local level to improve services for young children.

Who We Serve: First Steps serves children pre-birth to 5 years old and their families who are at risk of not being ready for school.

Board of Directors

The Board of Directors meets regularly to address important issues and guide the work done by CCFS.

All meetings begin at 11:30 am at NETC, 1201 Chesterfield Highway, Building 200, Cheraw, SC 29520. The public is invited to provide comments relevant to early childhood and/or First Steps during this period. For additional information on Board Meetings, please call 843-921-1452.

Members of the public wishing to speak must email karen@chesterfieldfirststeps.org 48 business hours in advance of the meeting. Comments should be limited to no more than three minutes per speaker.