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Board frames childcare work around workforce participation and school readiness
Summary
Leaders recommended the new childcare subcommittee prioritize workforce participation and kindergarten readiness, noting a regional shortage of capacity and the need for measurable outcomes tied to state policy.
Regional leaders recommended the childcare subcommittee focus on two measurable goals: improving workforce participation and increasing kindergarten readiness. Tom (speaker 10) from the chamber urged viewing childcare as economic development, saying the first five years of life largely determine school readiness.
Tom argued a dual focus would attract both employers and educators: “South Carolina is like the 4th lowest in the nation for workforce participation,” he said, and noted that high-quality early-childhood programs substantially improve readiness. Board members agreed the subcommittee should use existing presentations (notably by Shannon Erickson and Jody Levitt) as a blueprint and produce targeted recommendations for legislative engagement and local implementation.
The board asked the volunteer chair and members to review existing data and return with a mission that clarifies which part(s) of the childcare problem the regional body will tackle first (e.g., workforce supports, space/teacher ratios, or subsidy gaps).
