NC Early Childhood Foundation’s Executive Director, Muffy Grant, had the opportunity to discuss the decline in preschool and kindergarten enrollment that has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly for families with incomes below $25,000 dollars. In the interview, Muffy shared that schools are preparing for an influx of students in the new school year, and investing in teachers and support staff is important for the social-emotional health of young children.
“In North Carolina during the pandemic, we’ve seen how the inequities that exist in the system have been further exacerbated. We should really be focusing on the social-emotional effects of this past year of isolation, and in particular, for children who have the most barriers to access,” said Muffy.
The interview with WCNC Charlotte can be found here. A link to the video can be accessed here.