Q:			What is First Steps?
	A:			First Steps, signed into law on June 28, 1999 by Governor Jim Hodges, is a comprehensive, results-oriented early childhood education initiative designed to ensure that South Carolina children will arrive at first grade healthy and ready to succeed. First Steps focuses on lifelong learning, health care, quality child care, and transportation. Public and private funds and support are combined through county partnerships to enable individual communities to develop and provide comprehensive, high-quality early childhood education development services. Community leaders, child care providers, parents, teachers, faith leaders and the business community are collaborating in each county to conduct  a needs and resources assessment and strategic plan that will address unmet needs of young children and their families specific to their communities.
	Q:			Why do we need First Steps?
	A:			Today, nearly 1 in 7 South Carolina children test 'not ready' for first grade. In some communities, this statistic is as poor as 1 in 4, or higher. Research studies repeatedly show that children who arrive unprepared for first grade's challenges have a difficult time catching up and succeeding throughout the rest of their school years. Many of these students drop out of school or do not find fulfilling, productive jobs after high school as a result of their slow start. These children's entire lives are adversely affected by their lack of school readiness, and our quality of life overall in South Carolina suffers as well.
	Q:			What is the difference between First Steps and Head Start or Success by 6??
	A:			First Steps views Head Start and Success by 6 as key partners in its efforts. Both Head Start, a federally-funded program which targets a particular population of at-risk children, and Success by 6, have worked diligently to improve school readiness in South Carolina. However, statewide educational data indicate the need to intensify and to expand these efforts to reach young children in their communities. First Steps in each county will provide funds to fill gaps where services are needed, including to expand existing, effective early childhood initiatives. First Steps funds, then, could potentially be used to expand services provided by existing programs such as Head Start and Success by 6, among others.
	Q:			How is the initiative funded?
	A:			Funding for First Steps is made up of private donations and state dollars allocated by the South Carolina General Assembly. The state allocation for fiscal year 2002 is $39 million. To date, $7.3 million in private contributions has been committed.
	Q:			How much money will go to each county?
	A:			Two levels of First Steps grants are available for the development of the collaborative effort, needs and resources assessment, and strategic plan. The funding level for approved Level One grants is a maximum of $50,000. Level Two grants are for implementation and management of activities. The funding level for Level Two grant applications is determined by an allocation method that takes into consideration: The quality of the grant proposal; The population of children birth to age five in the area served by the First Steps county partnership; Percentage of students in grades 1-3 who are eligible for free/reduced price lunch program; Average per capita income; The area's ability to support the strategic plan initiative; and The standing of the geographical area covered by a First Steps county partnership in relation to statewide Kids Count indicators.
	Q:			How is First Steps going to improve what already exists in each county?
	A:			First Steps funds must not be used to supplant or replace any existing or otherwise available funds for services, but must be used to expand, extend, improve, or increase access to services or to enable a community to begin to offer new or previously unavailable services. Essentially, look as First Steps as a 'gap filler,' based upon the unmet school readiness needs that each county partnership determines exist.
	Q:			How do we know the money will be spent wisely?
	A:			First Steps is a results-oriented initiative. Strict guidelines, success indicators, and measurable outcomes are being developed at the state and county levels to insure accountability and the effective use of resources.
	Q:			Who is on each county partnership board?
	A:			Not more than two (2) members from each of these categories have been elected to sit on each First Steps county partnership board: Pre-kindergarten through primary educator Family education, training, and support provider; Child care and early childhood education provider; Healthcare provider; Transportation provider; Nonprofit organization that provides services to families and young children; Faith community; and Business community. Three parents of pre-school children (after first year of First Steps implementation, parents serving on board must have pre-school children being served by First Steps programs); and Four members from early childhood education. After the county partnership board has been formed, if necessary to assure that all areas of the county are adequately represented and reflect the diversity of the county, each county legislative delegation may appoint up to four additional members. Each of the following shall designate one member: county Department of Social Services; county Department of Health and Environmental Control; Head Start; county library; and each of the school districts in the county.
	Q:			When will the money be given out?
	A:			Level One (planning) grant awards were made beginning in December, 1999. All 46 counties received Level One grant awards of up to $50,000. The State Board has awarded Level Two grants to all 46 counties to implement school readiness programs.
	Q:			Where can I get more information about First Steps??
	A:			To find out more about First Steps, visit our web site at www.scfirststeps.org , or call our toll-free number: (877) 621-0865.