Education and Financial Hardship in South Carolina: A Call for Action
We believe that every child should have equitable access to high-quality education, but new research highlights a troubling reality: over half of South Carolina’s children are growing up in financially insecure households. In 2022, 53% of children in the state lived in households unable to afford the basic necessities. This condition deeply impacts their education, health and future opportunities. This includes not only 19% of children living in poverty, but also an additional 34% in ALICE® (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) households, where earnings fall short of meeting essential living costs.
Education is a fundamental building block for a brighter future, but it cannot thrive without financial stability. Children in households struggling to make ends meet often lack access to vital resources like high-speed internet and quality healthcare, which are critical to learning and overall well-being. Furthermore, the racial disparities in economic hardship are stark: 75% of Black children and 66% of Hispanic children in South Carolina live below the ALICE Threshold, compared to 39% of White children. These disparities underscore the need for targeted support and innovation to help all children thrive, regardless of their financial background.
Our work in education is tied to broader efforts in improving financial stability and health, as each of these areas is interconnected. Education leads to better jobs, higher pay and improved access to healthcare, creating a cycle of opportunity that benefits the entire community.
Our Goals and Work
· Identify innovative programs and resources
· Create connections to resources and programs
· Convene stakeholders to tackle these challenges together
Our Partners
· Communities In Schools of South Carolina
· Berkeley County School District
Every child has equal value and promise, and together, we can ensure that all children in the Tri-County area have the resources they need to succeed. Let’s work together to break the cycle of financial hardship and create a brighter future through education for every child.
Current Initiatives
Address Unplanned School Mobility in Berkeley County
Trident United Way (TUW) has launched an initiative to address the challenges of unplanned school mobility in Berkeley County, South Carolina, with support from a grant awarded by the Siemer Institute. This program, which targets students at Cainhoy Elementary School and Cross High School, aims to mitigate the negative impacts of sudden school transitions, such as lower academic performance and increased mental health concerns. In partnership with Communities In Schools (CIS) of South Carolina, Berkeley County School District and SC Works, TUW will offer critical support to both students and their families. This will include educational assistance, financial aid, home eviction prevention, job training and more to help stabilize households and foster long-term academic and emotional success. With a focus on communities experiencing economic hardship, the initiative takes a holistic approach to ensuring every child has the stability and resources needed to thrive.
Completed Initiatives
1,000 Books Before Kindergarten
From 2021-2024, Trident United Way partnered with Berkeley County Library System, Charleston County Public Library and Dorchester County Library to promote reading to ages birth to five and improve regional literacy gaps through the 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten Program. This nationwide program encourages families and caregivers to read 1,000 books with their child before they start kindergarten. Reading aloud to children from birth helps strengthen language skills and build vocabulary -- two important tools for learning to read.
Kindergarten Readiness
As the convener for our region’s first Kindergarten Readiness Network, and in partnership with the Tri-County Cradle to Career Collaborative (TCCC), Trident United Way (TUW) is positioned to provide the expertise and infrastructure necessary to support hundreds of early learning organizations, providers, businesses, local governments, community volunteers and others to collect data for an ambitious common agenda, develop shared goals and milestones and identify and operationalize promising solutions. This move aims to improve academic and developmental outcomes for children from birth through age 5 by creating a cohesive and strategic plan in coordination with community, local and state stakeholders.
Literacy United
Literacy United is a partnership initiative with stakeholders, community leaders, Trident United Way (TUW), and Charleston County School District (CCSD) to provide early reading intervention training to an elementary school on Johns Island, using proven methodology and evaluation implemented by Trident United Way and the University of Florida Lastinger Center. It’s a way to help our students catch up to their peers and ensure they’re able to read at grade level by third grade - a critical point in a child’s education.
Reading by Third
RB3 was focused on teacher professional development in the practice of teaching literacy to young children from the Lastinger Initiative at the University of Florida. During the summer of 2017, a pilot group of local teachers, who work with PK4-2nd grade students, participated in the initial training so that they could begin with this new paradigm as the school year began.
Interested in learning more? Contact Allison Hilton at ahilton@tuw.org or (843) 834-8635.