The closure of schools, day cares, and early childhood programming due to the Covid-19 pandemic is affecting many young children in the Lowcountry, and low-income communities are being impacted disproportionately. The economic hardship created by the pandemic is compounded when families have to do without the vital resources that pre-schools and childcare centers provide. And the longer these closures and programming disruptions continue, the greater the potential learning losses. Low-income children risk being left behind It is well accepted that poverty and inequality contribute to achievement gaps between children from different socio-economic households. Performance disparities take root well before children enter kindergarten and do not go away. The best way to lessen this gap for vulnerable children is through high-quality pre-kindergarten and early childhood programming. These programs often provide an additional safety net, like nutritious meals, essential servic