Each Child. Every Community.

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...

“Power without love is reckless and abusive, and love without power is sentimental and anemic." — Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. In honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., we reflect on this profound message. Our work at Smart Start requires us...

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...

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...

“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...

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...

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...

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...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE = February 24, 2017 Press Contact: Heather Strickland - 919-821-9564, hstrickland@smartstart.org Two Smart Start Local Partnerships Take the Lead on Fighting Early Childhood Obesity – Wake County SmartStart (WCSS) and the Down East Partnership for Children (DEPC)...

Working Paper #11: Building the Brain’s “Air Traffic Control” System: How Early Experiences Shape the Development of Executive Function Being able to focus, hold, and work with information in mind, filter distractions, and switch gears is like having an air...