Georgetown County’s three major early‑childhood education providers – Mingo Creek Academy, Little Smurfs, and Bible Way Community Learning Center – are confronting a $271,629 deficit tied to the federal pause on the Child Care Scholarship Program. Executive director Comeletia Pyatt told County Council that the shortfall represents families in the community who now face difficult employment decisions because affordable child‑care assistance has vanished.
Funding pause and its impact
The Child Care Scholarship Program, which distributes federal funds to qualified parents for child‑care expenses, placed a hold on new applications on Dec. 1, 2025 after the program ran out of money, according to officials with the South Carolina Department of Social Services (DSS). At the end of last year the county served more than 500 children with scholarships; this month that number fell to 126, with over half of the children three years old or younger and three‑quarters identifying as Black.
Pyatt explained that the loss of scholarship vouchers forces families to shoulder the full cost of care, leading some to withdraw children, reducing enrollment, and creating staffing challenges for the centers. “That scholarship was more than just a reimbursement source for us. It was a vital part of our sustainability in our financial model,” she said.
Provider responses
All three providers have taken steps to mitigate the shortfall. Measures include suspending summer transportation, exploring smaller campus footprints, pursuing additional grants and fundraising, and considering Early Head Start classes. The pause also affects other local programs; the Pawleys Island Child Development Center, a long‑standing facility, temporarily closed, though its owners are working on a reopening plan.
State and federal context
DSS requested $20 million in state funds for the current fiscal year to offset the loss of federal money, but the agency has not yet received additional state or federal support. The program’s monthly operating cost is estimated at $20 million to $24 million. Federal American Rescue Plan Act funding, which had given DSS flexibility during the COVID‑19 pandemic, ended on Sept. 30, 2024.
“To support as many South Carolina families as possible, especially those with young children during their most critical years, we are taking deliberate steps to maximize the reach of available funding and re‑open opportunities for working families,” said Tony Catone, state director of DSS.
Broader consequences for the county
The deficit’s ripple effect reaches beyond the three centers. When scholarships disappear, families lose a financial lifeline, and the county’s economy suffers. “It follows our parents to work in this community,” Pyatt noted, emphasizing the link between early‑education stability and local employment.
Vincent Davis, president of the Pawleys Island Civic Club, echoed the concern, stating that many families depend on the scholarships for basic needs. “There are others on a lifeline due to a loss of that funding,” he said.
School‑based early‑childhood programs also feel the strain. The Georgetown County School Board’s Plantersville elementary program closed during the 2025‑26 school year, and the Sampit program did not return this year. Both were operated by South Carolina First Steps.
Enrollment trends and waiting list
Statewide, the number of children receiving scholarships has dropped to 16,306, about 13 percent of the total, compared with over 50,000 families and 36,000 children in 2019. In Georgetown County, 147 children were served last month out of 18,711 statewide voucher recipients. More than half of those children are three years old or younger, and just over 65 percent are Black.
DSS launched an online wait list as it plans to reopen the scholarship program. Applications surged from nearly 5,000 on Oct. 1 to almost 8,000 twelve days later. Eligibility is limited to children under five, with families capped at two children per household and required to earn at or below 55 percent of the state median income.
Long‑term educational impact
Early‑learning gaps threaten future academic performance. “Children who miss early learning opportunities enter kindergarten unprepared, and academic performance will worsen,” Pyatt warned. Georgetown County School Board Chairman Keith Moore agreed, noting that many students are starting school behind and may struggle to catch up.
Pyatt urged County Council to view quality child care as an essential investment for the community’s economic health. “Our economy depends on it. Our community depends on it,” she said, calling for council support to sustain early‑education services.
Original reporting: Coastal Observer (Georgetown County) — read the source article.
