Each Child. Every Community.

New state funding expands early literacy, strengthens the early childhood workforce, and increases behavioral and mental health supports for young children, families, and educators.

[Raleigh, NC] — The North Carolina Partnership for Children and the Smart Start Network are grateful to the North Carolina General Assembly for approving $14.8 million in new recurring and nonrecurring investments for early childhood initiatives in the 2026 Appropriations Bill.

The funding supports several key priorities that will strengthen services for North Carolina’s youngest children and the adults who care for them, including expanding Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, increasing the child care workforce by providing more academies and alternative pathways to become early childhood educators, and enhancing behavioral and mental health supports for children, families, and early childhood educators.

The Smart Start Network extends special appreciation to Representative Dean Arp (Republican, District 69, Union) and Senator Ralph Hise (Republican, District 47, Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Caldwell, Haywood, Madison, Mitchell, Watauga, Yancey) for sponsoring legislation that advances innovative solutions to address North Carolina’s early childhood needs. Their leadership helped secure funding for the Career-ready Lead Teacher Pilot Program, which expands child care academies and creates additional pathways for training lead teachers, as well as initiatives that strengthen behavioral and mental health services and expand access to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.

“We are grateful to see the Smart Start Network’s funding priorities included in the proposed House and Senate budgets,” said Amy Cubbage, President of The North Carolina Partnership for Children.

“We are grateful to see the Smart Start Network’s funding priorities included in the proposed House and Senate budgets,” said Amy Cubbage, President of The North Carolina Partnership for Children. “These investments, along with increased child care subsidy reimbursement rates, demonstrate a continued commitment to supporting young children, families, and the early childhood workforce across North Carolina.”

The budget includes:

• $6 million for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, including $1 million recurring and $5 million nonrecurring, building on the existing $7 million in recurring funding for a total state investment of $13 million. The program provides free, age-appropriate books to children from birth to age five, helping families build strong early literacy skills at home.
• $1.5 million in nonrecurring funding for the Career-ready Lead Teacher Pilot Program to expand child care academies and strengthen the early childhood workforce.
• $7.3 million in nonrecurring funding to expand behavioral and mental health services for young children, families, and early childhood educators.

The 2026 Appropriations Bill was sent to Governor Josh Stein for review and consideration on July 2, 2026, and was signed into law on July 7, 2026. The Smart Start Network appreciates Governor Josh Stein for signing this important investment into law and recognizes the commitment of state leaders to supporting young children, families, and early childhood educators across North Carolina.

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About Smart Start and NCPC

Smart Start is a statewide network of 75 local partnerships serving all 100 North Carolina counties with a mission to advance a high-quality, comprehensive, accountable early childhood system that benefits each child in North Carolina beginning with a healthy birth. Led by NCPC, this network ensures fiscal and programmatic accountability.