Smart Start Conference Spotlight: Developing Bipartisan Consensus on Early Childhood Care and Education

During this time of political polarization, it is such an inspiration to see legislators who find common ground in their support for early childhood. There are compassionate, smart, and responsible leaders serving in North Carolina's General Assembly who don't...

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Reflections on the Hunt-Lee Commission and Report

“We have built a stepping stone not a stumbling block…,” “We have built a stepping stone not a stumbling block…,” Senator Howard Lee reminded us, as he and Senator Michael Lee, Co-Chairs of the Hunt-Lee Commission, closed out our...

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Honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

“Power without love is reckless and abusive, and love without power is sentimental and anemic. Power at its best is love implementing the demands of justice, and justice at its best is power correcting everything that stands against love.” —...

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Cabarrus Partnership for Children Addresses High Quality Child Care

Child care providers and teachers work daily to ensure children have the support they need to thrive. However, as the state continues to battle the pandemic, early child care providers are still struggling, experiencing financial challenges and difficulty with...

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North Carolina’s Children and Families Can’t Wait for a Budget

This is an article written by Amy Cubbage, President of the North Carolina Partnership for Children (NCPC) and originally running in the Perspectives section of the EdNC website  North Carolina families are stressed. They are tired. They are worried for...

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Smart Start Featured Session: Rural Needs & Strategies

Smart Start Featured Session: Rural Needs & Strategies

“Rural is not a problem to be solved, it is an opportunity to be unlocked.” Smart Start Conference attendees heard this important statement from Todd Brantley, vice president of Public Affairs for NC Rural Center, during the conference’s first Featured...

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Active Play is a Powerful Tool for Preschooler’s Development

On average, children can spend 36 hours a week in childcare. Therefore, it is so important to promote healthy and safe indoor and outdoor environments in early care and education settings. Here are just two resources to do that. Child Care Health...

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National Experts in Early Education Headline Smart Start Conference

MEDIA ALERT April 25, 2019Press Contact: Heather Strickland - 919-749-5013, 919-821-9566 National Experts in Early Education Headline Smart Start Conference Essence Magazine Founder, Susan L. Taylor, to Deliver Closing Keynote Greensboro, NC– Over 1,000 early childhood professionals from across the country will gather...

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Alamance Partnership for Children Hosted its Sixth Annual Early Education Summit

Local Partnership hosts Sixth Annual Early Education Summit  Alamance Partnership for Children hosted its Sixth Annual Early Education Summit on January 22.  The Summit created a forum for the local community to discuss early childhood education and was a big hit...

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Cause for Alarm: Addressing North Carolina Early Childhood Suspension and Expulsion Rates

Post by Ebonyse Mead, MA, MS, CFLE and Kara Lehnhardt, MBA “Whoa!? Is this for real?!”  That was our reaction when we first encountered the data describing just how many young children in early childhood programs are experiencing suspension or expulsion. ...

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