Support for Smart Start – Alliance for Early Success
For twenty years, a cadre of committed policymakers, advocates, state administrators, local nonprofits, providers, business leaders, and parents have been working to ensure that children born in North Carolina have the early experiences they need to thrive. Smart Start guided this group of state and local partners to national recognition, and inspired replication across the country. With this sustained commitment to young children, and the professionals who care for them, it is not surprising that North Carolina received the top score in the Race to the Top Early Learning Challenge. Thank you for your pioneering vision, and your willingness to share what you have learned with other states. May you continue to thrive for the next twenty years!
Lisa Klein, Helene Stebbins, and Steffanie Clothier
Alliance for Early Success (formerly, Birth to Five Policy Alliance)
