BEAUFORT COUNTY NEWS | HEADLINES | JULY 12, 2024 | Watch LIVE @www.BeaufortCounty.tv

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The Beaufort County News Headlines presented by Chloe Gee.
When ‘universal’ pre-K really isn’t: Barriers to participating abound

In SC, full-day 4K is available statewide for ‘at-risk’ children

Elaine Povich, SC Daily Gazette



In South Carolina, the state provides full-day 4K for children who live in poverty or have other “at-risk” factors, such as developmental delays. The full-day program started as a pilot in 2006 and gradually expanded statewide. The state funds it in both public schools and private providers.



For the coming school year, the Legislature allocated more than $137 million toward full-day 4K, up from $76 million in 2019-20, according to budget documents and the latest report on South Carolina’s program.



Studies show preschool is highly beneficial for young children, giving them a jump on reading and math skills and the socialization that are key to later school success. Preschool differs from child care, which has less emphasis on academics and often doesn’t employ certified teachers. But private preschool is costly, making it difficult for parents with lower incomes to afford pre-K unless it’s state-funded.



In South Carolina, the state pays for full-day 4-year-old kindergarten for children designated "at risk." That means children who qualify for Medicaid or free and reduced-price meals, as well as those who are homeless, in foster care or show developmental delays, are eligible for free, full-day 4K.



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The SC Department of Natural Resources is hosting two free fishing clinics: the first will be Saturday, July 27, from 8 a.m. until 11 a.m. and the second clinic will be Tuesday, August 13, from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m.

Both clinics will be held at Beaufort's Broad River Fishing Pier, 1050 Robert Smalls Parkway (map).

The fishing clinics are both free and open to the public. Participants must pre-register. Only 12 participants will be accepted for each clinic.

Register here to attend the Saturday, July 27 free fishing clinic.

Register here to attend the Tuesday, August 13 free fishing clinic.

For more information, contact Pam Corwin at SCDNR at 843-729-0759 or [email protected].

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Beaufort County has partnered with AccessNow, to complete a pilot project enhancing accessibility awareness at Beaufort County’s Passive Parks. This is the first project of its kind in South Carolina, focusing on informing the public about accessibility on three popular passive parks: Widgeon Point, Crystal Lake, and Fort Fremont. AccessNow’s mission is to establish a go-to resource for accessibility information. Their platform empowers people to discover a world of accessible opportunities, make better decisions, and remove barriers.

Project Highlights:

Three Mapped Trails: This initiative targets Widgeon Point, Crystal Lake, and Fort Fremont, providing decision-making accessibility information about these beautiful, popular parks. Additional trails and parks may be assessed in the future.

Easy Access: The AccessNow mapping project includes important accessibility information including parking and restroom information, as well as any potential navigational hazards. These park accessibility maps can be viewed from the Passive Parks Department properties webpage, or the AccessNow website.

Passive Parks Director Stefanie Nagid emphasized the significance of the pilot program, stating, “This initiative is a tremendous step towards making Beaufort County’s outdoor spaces more inclusive and enjoyable for all members of the community. We look forward to seeing the positive impact this pilot program will have and hope to expand our efforts further.”

The Passive Parks Department also offers three all-terrain wheelchairs free for public use. These chairs can be reserved through filling out and submitting a print form available here, and an online registration form will be available soon.

For more information on Beaufort County Passive Parks, to view program schedules, and to stay updated, please visit our https://www.beaufortcountysc.gov/pass... at www.beaufortcountysc.gov.

For more information about AccessNow’s Outdoor program, please visit https://accessnow.com/outdoors/.



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County Council Member Gerald Dawson (District 1) will host a community meeting for the citizens of Burton to discuss stormwater issues and concerns.

The meeting will be Sunday, July 14, 5 p.m.. at Burton Wells Regional Recreation Center (map).

Beaufort County Public Works and Stormwater Department Director David Wilhelm will provide updates and answer questions from community members.

For questions and more information Council Member Dawson at 843-986-7265 or [email protected].