Why It Matters
THE NEED PERSISTS
What we’re doing is working in Lexington County, but as we expand our reach, the need persists.
20,436
Children aged 0 -5 in Lexington county
40%
of young children live in poverty or low-income households
62%
of kindergarteners are considered “not ready” for school
Here’s what we’re doing
1,235 Children
were directly served in Lexington County
969 parents and caregivers
received services and support to be their child’s first and most important teacher
787 educators
participated in First Steps training and professional development
PROVEN RESULTS
A 2019 study found that children who received First Steps local partnership services were:
74% more likely
to score at the highest level on the Kindergarten Readiness Assessment
34% less likely
to be chronically absent in kindergarten
$1 = $1.66
Lexington County First Steps leveraged $730,597.52 from sources outside of state government, providing a match of $0.66 for every state dollar invested.
Maximizing dollars
Matching state dollars with outside donations is a crucial strategy in our efforts to increase our impact across Lexington County.
Help us continue to maximize our impact and empower our community to work together to support our youngest learners