Horry County Schools board approves application for state CERDEP preschool funding, with local cost-sharing plan

The Horry County Board of Education voted unanimously to apply for Child Early Reading Development and Education (CERDEP) startup funding from the South Carolina Department of Education and endorsed staff recommendations on local cost-sharing and classroom allocations.

Board members heard a presentation from Kim Inman, coordinator of parenting and early childhood programs, and Lee James (staff), who reviewed CERDEP eligibility, program history and multiple financial scenarios before the board voted. The board motion to apply — presented as the curriculum committee recommendation — passed with an unanimous voice vote.

CERDEP is a state-funded early-intervention preschool program that has expanded statewide since initial pilots and later the Read to Succeed Act. Inman told the board the program targets 4-year-old children meeting age and income criteria and noted several past changes to CERDEP requirements, including removal of some facility and Department of Social Services licensure mandates and continued oversight by the State Department of Education. James and Inman outlined how those changes affect local operations, staffing and startup requirements.

The staff recommendation that the board approved asks that Horry County Schools submit an application that would: seek full startup funding for all eligible child development classrooms if the district participates; request flexibility to fund classroom seats; and adopt a local contribution structure that funds half of classroom aide positions and funds four “flex” teachers to continue serving approximately 100–139 children who, under the state eligibility formula, would otherwise lose seats. Lee James presented multiple budget scenarios showing (as presented) current local funding for child development from the general fund ($1,949,000), the Education Improvement Act (EIA) ($2,032,000) and Title I (roughly $5,138,000), and a district total of roughly $9.0 million under the current model. James also presented scenarios in which CERDEP startup funding would replace some local line items and described a conservative “75% startup funding” scenario the district should plan around.

Board members asked for and were given enrollment figures and clarifications: James said the district currently serves about 1,150 children in child development classrooms. James and Inman also cited smaller counts tied to eligibility calculations: 139 students were noted as not meeting CERDEP eligibility under current state formulas; separately staff identified six schools that do not meet the percent-poverty threshold (Forest Brook, Lakewood, Ocean Bay, Ocean Drive, River Oaks and Saint James Elementary) totaling 240 students — of those 240 James said 206 would qualify under other selection criteria. James warned that districts often receive slightly below the full startup amount based on attendance and other factors and recommended planning conservatively.

Board Chair David Cox asked for clarity on the local funding share. At the vote the board confirmed the application will include the staff-recommended local contribution (discussed in the presentation as funding half of classroom aides) and funding four additional flex classrooms. The motion was approved by voice vote; members present responded “aye.”

The board directed staff to submit the application to the State Department of Education and to return with required business agenda items and final budget language at the Jan. 27 meeting.

Votes at a glance: The board’s motion to submit the CERDEP application and to include the recommended local funding and four flex classrooms passed unanimously by voice vote.