For every dollar spent on school-aged students in South Carolina, $0.11 was spent on infants and toddlers, and $0.18 was spent on preschool-aged children.
South Carolina invested over $586 million in early care and education in 2023. Of these investments in birth to kindergarten-entry:
– 41% supported infants and toddlers, and 59% supported children aged three to kindergarten-entry.
– 69% came from federal sources, and 31% came from state funds.
ECE Spending by Program Type
Between 2022 and 2023, South Carolina increased state-specific spending on children from birth through kindergarten-entry by more than $6 million.
In 2023, South Carolina supported early care and education through dedicated programs such as South Carolina First Steps and the BabyNet Program. Continued investments will be reflected in future reports.
Per Capita Spending by Age Group
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