Wed Dec 03 01:00:00 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a news article summarizing the information, suitable for publication:

South Carolina Child Care Scholarship Program Pauses New Applications Amid Funding Concerns

COLUMBIA, S.C. – New applications for South Carolina’s child care scholarship program are on hold, the Department of Social Services (DSS) announced December 1st. The temporary pause impacts families seeking vouchers to help cover child care costs for children up to age 12. The agency cites a delay and potential reduction in federal funding as the reason for the halt. The weather in Columbia today featured a mix of sunshine and clouds with a high of 57F. Winds were WNW at 5 to 10 mph. Expect a few clouds tonight with a low of 43F and NNW winds at 5 to 10 mph.

The program currently supports nearly 50,000 children across the state. While existing scholarship recipients will continue to receive their benefits, new applications will only be accepted from families falling into federally-protected categories, such as those experiencing homelessness or domestic violence, those with disabilities, or those receiving certain federal welfare benefits. Previously, eligibility extended to families with incomes at or below 85% of the state median income (approximately $87,000 for a family of four).

Advocates and child care providers express concern about the potential impact on families and the already strained child care system. Janet Bates, a leader with Chamber of Moms, calls the funding gap “a Band-Aid solution that is now getting ripped away.”

The average cost of child care in the United States is $13,128, according to a 2024 report from Child Care Aware. Kimberly Thurman, who runs Kim’s Little Blessings Daycare in Bennettsville, worries that families in rural Marlboro County will be unable to afford care without the scholarships, impacting her center’s ability to remain sustainable. Ericka Jones, of Leaders Of Tomorrow Child Development Center in Columbia, highlights the challenges of serving infants and toddlers due to high costs and staffing difficulties.

Georgia Mjartan, president and CEO of the Central Carolina Community Foundation, warns that the pause could lead to child care center closures, affecting even families who pay out-of-pocket. Over 1,900 centers statewide accept the scholarships.

According to DSS spokesman Will Batchelor, the length of the pause will depend on the level of federal funding South Carolina receives from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Funding was delayed due to the government shutdown, and the upcoming grant may be smaller than in previous years. DSS requested $20 million from the state’s 2026-27 budget to support the program, which would support 2,537 more children.

Bates is urging state lawmakers to pass a bill that would quadruple the state’s child care tax credit and create a dedicated fund for child care. “Everybody needs to be paying attention to this, because it intimately affects our workforce, the long-term viability of South Carolina’s economy and the safety and security of our children,” she said.

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