Countdown to Kindergarten Expansion is Successful -

Thanks to the Anderson County United Way and Anderson County School Teachers

During the summer, the Anderson County First Steps Partnership successfully expanded the Countdown to Kindergarten by providing school transition services to 46 children and their families in all five Anderson School Districts. During Summer 2010, the Partnership provided services to 20 children and their families. The United Way of Anderson County awarded an $8,500 grant to the Partnership to expand the Countdown to Kindergarten program into all five school districts and to provide year-round information for parents about requirements for their child's transition into kindergarten. The mission of Countdown to Kindergarten is to improve the quality of parent-child learning interactions and the parent’s involvement in the child’s education, and help parents and communities realize the importance of preparing children for school. Countdown to Kindergarten was created by the South Carolina Office of First Steps, with the help of many partners, including researchers at the University of South Carolina Early Learning Center. It has been recognized by both the National Governor's Association and Columbia University as an excellent program model. High Scope, the nationally-renown education evaluation organization, has evaluated Countdown to Kindergarten and administered pre- and post-surveys with excellent results.