Mar
15
2022
Smart Start’s efforts to support children and their families and improve early childhood outcomes in every community in every county began in 1993. Today, many children attend high-quality early care and education programs, their parents have increased access to...
Dec
02
2021
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...
Nov
15
2021
by Amy Cubbage
Last week, a new court order to fund the comprehensive plan was the latest development in the long-running Leandro case, which is aimed at ensuring all North Carolina students have access to a sound basic education. The case began...
Oct
07
2021
Family child care is an essential service for many families throughout North Carolina, with 1,300 family child care homes that served 8,700 children in 2020. During the pandemic, family child care homes provided options for parents and essential workers...
Sep
22
2021
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...
Aug
25
2021
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...
Aug
03
2021
This is a joint blog post published by Marsha Basloe, President of Child Care Services Association, and Amy Cubbage, President of the North Carolina Partnership for Children. You may download this post as a PDF here.
It’s time to talk about the workforce...
Jul
23
2021
“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...
Mar
06
2020
A sound, basic education begins at birth. The court in Leandro has affirmed what educators and the early childhood community know: “a high-quality early foundation for learning is critical for later success in school and beyond.” To meet its obligations, the state...
Feb
13
2020
In December 2019, DCDEE was notified that North Carolina was one of 20 states and territories awarded the three-year renewal grant through the B-5 Preschool Development Grant. There are four new activities planned for North Carolina. The funded...
