Each Child. Every Community.

In celebration of the upcoming new year, Smart Start is celebrating our hard work and taking this time to recognize the role of Smart Start local partnerships in each community. Smart Start is working across the state to create a brighter future for each child in every community. Throughout the first weeks of December we will be showcasing the impact of Smart Start by diving into our work with early care and education, family support, early literacy, health and nutrition, and our innovation throughout the pandemic. To learn more about Smart Start, you can read Smart Start’s 2020-2021 Impact Report.

The Smart Start network is committed to increasing the quality of early care and education across the state for North Carolina’s youngest children.

Smart Start is able to create an impact by:

1. 1. Improving or maintaining the high quality of child care centers, improving access to quality centers for children, and offering professional development and TA.
      – The percentage of children in 4 and 5 star programs increased from 33 percent in 2001 to 72 percent in 2021.
   2. Creating a strong foundation for high quality child care in each community by addressing individual community needs and supporting funding.
      – Smart Start local partnerships work directly with child care centers in each county to understand the greatest needs for quality enhancements, including environmental ratings, teacher education and skill-building, and health and nutrition.
   3. Partnering with NC Pre-K providers to help with access to NC Pre-K and program administration.
      – In 55 counties the Smart Start local partnership administers NC Pre-K.
   4. Managing subsidy funds to boost quality and promote child care access for children.
      – Many Smart Start local partnerships manage subsidy funds within their communities to boost quality and promote access for children who are at the highest risk.
   5. Supporting the Early Care and Education workforce through the help of statewide programs and innovative solutions.
      – 3,784 low-paid teachers received an education-based salary supplement ensuring continuity of care for children by highly qualified teachers.

Each local partnership provides this impact differently, meeting each community where its at to support early care and education in unique, innovative ways.

For example, the Hoke County Partnership for Children and Families implemented a long-term educational support program targeting lower star rated facilities. Teachers enrolled in the Teacher Education Assistance For College And Higher Education (T.E.A.C.H.) program and started education courses through the local community college. As a result of this initiative, 50% of participating teachers are on track to earn a degree by May 2022 and additional child care centers are working towards a higher star rating. 

You can learn more about the impact Smart Start has had across the state with early care and education by reading the 2020-2021 Impact Report.