The Child Development Program in Horry County School District is an intervention for the most at-risk four-year-olds. It is a full-day program designed to ensure that children prepare for kindergarten armed with the specific social/emotional skills and cognitive abilities necessary to meet South Carolina’s challenging academic standards.

Eligibility to participate in the Child Development Program is determined by: income, an age-appropriate developmental screening, the completion of a parent questionnaire and other contributing factors that may indicate a child is in jeopardy of potential delays.

Selected students are taught by teachers fully-certified in early childhood education, in small classes of 20 students with low student-teacher ratios, using tested and proven standards and curriculum. 

Child Development classes are located in all elementary/primary schools in the district. The number of classes at each school varies and is determined by the number of eligible students as well as available classroom space at each campus.  Schools maintain a waiting list that is utilized as slots become available.