South Carolina Childcare Centers Face Enrollment Drop After Funding Pause

The South Carolina Department of Social Services paused childcare scholarship funding in December 2025, leading to widespread enrollment declines and staff layoffs at childcare centers across the state. The agency implemented these spending cuts following the expiration of pandemic-era COVID funding.

Business owners report significant losses as families who relied on vouchers can no longer afford care. Barbara Robinson, owner of Precious One’s Development Center in Rock Hill, reported that her student population dropped from 38 children to 15. Robinson noted that the lack of funding causes stability issues for centers because families are forced to leave.

The South Carolina Department of Social Services maintains that some families remain eligible for funding. This eligibility is restricted to specific groups, including recipients of food assistance, those experiencing homelessness, or parents of children with special needs.