Understanding how policies affect South Carolinians’ access to high-quality child care is essential to supporting the state’s children, families, and early care and education (ECE) workforce. Child Trends, the University of South Carolina, and the South Carolina Department of Social Services are partnering on a five-year Child Care Policy Research Partnership grant, funded by the Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation (OPRE) to examine how Child Care Development Fund (CCDF) policies, quality initiatives in ABC Quality (ABCQ), and ECE workforce supports affect families’ access to high-quality care.
Background
The project is focused on gaining a better understanding of the following policies’ impact in South Carolina:
- SC BOO$T: A wage enhancement pilot initiative for the ECE workforce
- Reinstatement of families’ eligibility for child care scholarships from 300 percent of the federal poverty level (FPL) to 85 percent of the state medium income: The temporary increase in eligibility to 300 percent FPL known as the COVID-300 policy, started during the COVID-19 pandemic, expired on September 30, 2023
- Increased provider reimbursement rates based on a percentage of the estimated cost of care
- Child care subsidy payments to ECE providers based on enrollment rather than attendance
Intended Impacts
Examining these policies will allow us to answer questions about how these changes have supported families’ access to child care and early education, how they have affected providers’ support for families’ access to care, and how they have impacted the ECE workforce.
Research Approach
This project will gather information by conducting surveys and focus groups with ECE administrators, the workforce, and families, and analyzing administrative program data. We will also use publicly available data including from the U.S. Census to describe the demographic characteristics of geographic regions across the state.
Project Team
Child Trends
- Patti Banghart Gottesman
- Dale Richards
- Jennifer Cleveland
- Elizabeth Reddington
- Rachel Abenavoli
- Bonnie Solomon
- Jing Tang
University of South Carolina, Research, Evaluation, and Measurement Center
- Hall West
- Tammie Dickenson
University of South Carolina, Child Development Research Center
- Vasanthi Rao
- Leigh D’Amico
- Chase Bailey
South Carolina Division of Social Services
- Michelle Bowers
- Beverly Hunter
- Cathy Kovacs
Related Projects
Understanding Changes to Child Care Policies in Vermont
Minnesota Child Care Policy Research Partnership
Maryland Child Care Policy Research Partnership
The project, “Advancing Access to High Quality Child Care and Early Education for South Carolina Families” is supported by the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) of the United States (U.S.) Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award (Award #: 90YE0317) totaling $400,000 annually for five years (2024 – 2029), pending approval, with 100 percent funded by ACF/HHS. The contents are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by ACF/HHS, or the U.S. Government. For more information, please visit the ACF website, https://acf.gov /
