South Carolina First Steps to School Readiness was established in 1999 by the South Carolina General Assembly to close the gap on student’s preparedness for success in school. The work of First Steps, the local partnerships, and the local partnership board of trustees is governed by S.C. Code Ann. § 59-152 (2018). First Steps’ purpose and goals, the structure of the local partnership boards, the powers and duties of the local boards, and other finance and administration requirements can be found within this chapter.