Early Childhood Focus

Budget Plan Calls for Fewer Child Care Inspections

Tue, 26 Apr 2011 15:38:22 PST

EXCERPT FROM: The Post and Courier
By Jim Davenport
COLUMBIA, S.C. � South Carolina's large day care centers will be inspected fewer times under a measure tucked into the state's $5.8 billion proposed budget.

Programs for Children Hit Hard by Cuts

Thu, 20 May 2010 17:24:47 PST

EXCERPT FROM: Charlotte Observer
By Don Babwin-Associated Press
Now the crisis is reaching the children.

Police Say Child Care Where Child Died Was Unlicensed

Thu, 29 Apr 2010 11:33:20 PST

EXCERPT FROM: WSOC Charlotte TV
By News Staff
FORT MILL, S.C. -- A Fort Mill woman is charged with running an illegal day care from her home, just weeks after a toddler died while in her care.

DHEC Kicks Off School Based H1N1 Flu Clinics

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 14:15:26 PST

EXCERPT FROM: WTOC
By Jaime Dailey
BEAUFORT, SC (WTOC) - After a lot of anticipation, the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control kicked off their H1N1 school based flu clinics today, vaccinating hundreds of children in the Lowcountry.

H1N1 Clinic for Child Care Workers and Clients

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 15:21:06 PST

EXCERPT FROM: Greenwood Today
ANDERSON- DHEC Region 1 will be offering H1N1 flu vaccine on Monday, November 16 from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at your local health department for Day Care staff and children who attend a Day Care. Region 1 Health Departments are in Abbeville, Anderson, Edgefield, Greenwood, Laurens, McCormick, Oconee (Walhalla office) and Saluda counties.

Family Y's Offer Free Childcare to Those Seeking Jobs

Tue, 15 Sep 2009 12:59:20 PST

The Aiken County Family Y and North Augusta Family Y now offer free childcare to unemployed parents while they are out on job interviews.

York County Child Cares Pinched by Poor Economy

Mon, 24 Aug 2009 14:32:39 PST

Melodie Samson drafted a recent letter with a strong message to parents of children in her day care center.

Economy Hits Child Cares

Mon, 03 Aug 2009 16:24:00 PST

The number of at-home day cares is growing in South Carolina while a handful of larger centers, which are more costly and tightly regulated, have closed, state records show.

Child-Care Prison Bill Likely Dead This Session

Tue, 28 Apr 2009 12:21:20 PST

An Orangeburg senator and criminal defense lawyer likely has killed a bill that requires day-care operators who seriously harm children to serve minimum prison sentences, bill supporters say.

SC Special Needs Child Care Facility Closes

Tue, 06 Jan 2009 11:58:26 PST

ALLENDALE/BARNWELL, S.C. --- Another sign of the times, a state center for special needs children is closed. It's in Allendale and it serves over 20 children from our area. We show you how you can help bring this much-needed facility back.

Child Care Classes Shrink as Parents Cut Corners

Fri, 26 Dec 2008 12:35:46 PST

COLUMBIA --- At the Midland Valley Christian Academy and Day Care in Clearwater, vacancies are staying open for the first time in eight years, says supervisor Sharon Usry.

DHEC Proposes Fee Increases for Child Care Facilities, Wells

Tue, 16 Dec 2008 17:01:21 PST

Fees for drilling wells and inspections for everything from child care facilities to shelters could increase, according to a proposal before the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control�s board Thursday.

Budget Cuts Close Four Greenville, South Carolina, Child Care Centers

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 12:00:03 PST

Greenville, South Carolina -- The economy is causing more painful budget cuts -- this time, hurting some of South Carolina's most vulnerable children.

Local Child Care Centers Offer Incentives to Increase Enrollment

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 15:30:13 PST

NORTH AUGUSTA, S.C. --- Patricia Taylor used to let her kids go to child care but says now with the bad economy and rising prices, it just makes more sense to keep them home.

State's Budget Crisis Could Cut Education

Thu, 16 Oct 2008 10:25:38 PST

North Charleston, SC - More than 400 million dollars could soon be wiped from the state�s budget and schools would take a major blow. Meanwhile, Governor Mark Sanford is trying to decide how to make cuts to the system. Sanford says he wants to save three programs: Medicaid, the corrections department and education, but education takes up a major chunk of the budget and some things may have to go.

Preschoolers to Get Reading Help

Thu, 16 Oct 2008 09:59:30 PST

Children in four rural communities will get extra reading help before they even start school as a result of a new partnership between South Carolina First Steps to School Readiness and the national nonprofit Save the Children.

Grandparents Playing Vital Role in Child Care

Thu, 02 Oct 2008 16:51:05 PST

The old saying by grandparents has it that they love spending time with their grandchildren but the beauty is that when it comes time to part, the grandkids go home with Mom and Dad.

Pre-K Essential to Adequate Education

Wed, 25 Jun 2008 16:30:41 PST

Now is the time. Another generation of students should not be cheated. The S.C. Supreme Court has before it an historic opportunity to decide whether all of South Carolina�s children will have the opportunity to enter school ready to learn.

Early Childhood Development Has Lifetime Benefits

Wed, 14 May 2008 16:00:31 PST

A recent article in The Greenville News titled "Education failings still holding state back" suggested that South Carolina's high school graduation rate of 60.1 percent was holding back the economic competitiveness of our work force. I suspect that most South Carolinians would agree that the educational level of our citizenry is impacting our overall opportunities for economic development. However, the implication that this is due to the failings of our education system is misdirected and counter to the research that exists on this topic.

Report Calls for Reforms in State Child Care Laws

Thu, 07 Feb 2008 15:25:23 PST

Last year, a 10-month-old died after a north Columbia child-care provider left the child in a day-care van for seven hours.