Charleston County Economic Development invests $2 million in North Charleston universal pre-K expansion

Charleston County Economic Development (CCED) is investing $2.025 million in Charleston County School District’s expansion of Universal Pre-K in North Charleston, a major partnership designed to support young children, working families, and the region’s workforce.

Through the partnership, funding donated will help create at least 229 new Pre-K seats in North Charleston. The investment builds on CCSD’s launch of its first Universal Pre-K program at Charleston Progressive Academy on the Charleston Peninsula this school year and marks the next major step in the district’s plan to expand access to early learning across Charleston County.

This investment recognizes that access to early childhood education has an impact far beyond the classroom. For many families, reliable, high-quality Pre-K can help parents and caregivers to enter the workforce, work additional hours, remain employed, or pursue education and training. Those workforce impacts will be among the outcomes evaluated as the initiative moves forward.

The partnership represents an innovative approach to workforce development and recognizes that access to affordable, high-quality early learning is essential infrastructure for supporting a growing economy.

As the expansion moves forward, CCSD and its partners will measure not only the number of new seats created and filled, but also the broader impact on participating families, including employment, work hours, education and training opportunities, prior childcare costs, and barriers families face in accessing early learning.