South Carolina Launches Waitlist for Paused Child Care Scholarship Program Amid Provider Concerns

Greenville Spartanburg Asheville Anderson, SC, October 5, 2026 — South Carolina has introduced an online waitlist for its state child care scholarship program, following a pause in the program that began in December. The initiative aims to manage applications as the program works towards resuming full operations.

Child care providers in the Upstate region have voiced concerns regarding the indefinite pause and the subsequent launch of a waitlist. These centers report experiencing a noticeable decline in student enrollment. A primary worry among providers is the absence of a clear timeline for when funding will be allocated through the newly established waitlist system.

The lack of predictability regarding funding availability is impacting the operational stability of these child care facilities. Without a confirmed schedule for financial support, centers face challenges in planning resources, staffing, and services.

Families seeking assistance through the scholarship program have also encountered obstacles. Some prospective beneficiaries have been disqualified from participating in the new waitlist. An example cited includes a single mother whose child aged out of the eligibility requirements for the program, preventing her family from accessing the scholarship via the waitlist.

The specifics regarding eligibility criteria for the waitlist beyond age, the exact date the program was paused in December, and the projected timeline for funding disbursal through the waitlist were not immediately available.

The state’s Department of Social Services oversees the child care scholarship program. Further updates on the program’s operational status and funding timelines are anticipated.

Story summarized from the original created by Ashley Listrom on www.foxcarolina.com, see more information here.

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