Access to high-quality preschool is essential for preparing children for kindergarten and ensuring their long-term success. Yet, in North Carolina, many children and families are left without access to the state’s public pre-kindergarten program, NC Pre-K. This is a problem we cannot afford to ignore.
There is overwhelming evidence that preschool has profound benefits for children, families, and society. Children who attend preschool are more likely to succeed academically, socially, and later in life. Reliable pre-kindergarten can be the key to maintaining employment for parents, especially working mothers. Beyond individual outcomes, society benefits from lower crime rates, higher earnings, and a stronger workforce when children receive a quality early education.
The Problem: Limited Access to NC Pre-K
Currently, only 27% of North Carolina’s low-income 4-year-olds are enrolled in publicly funded pre-kindergarten programs, including NC Pre-K, Head Start, and special education. Of those eligible for NC Pre-K, only 1 in 2 are enrolled. This means that nearly half of the state’s low-income 4-year-olds, who are most at risk of falling behind, do not have access to this essential program.
Why does this matter? Research has shown that children who attend high-quality preschool are less likely to need special education services later, which means significant savings for the state. Preschool also helps reduce educational inequities, giving children from all backgrounds a fair shot at success. Despite these benefits, many families are left on waiting lists, unable to access the preschool education their children need.
The Solution: Expanding NC Pre-K
To address this gap, North Carolina must invest in expanding access to NC Pre-K. The 2019 report Barriers to Expansion of NC Pre-K: Problems and Potential Solutions identified inadequate funding as the primary reason for limited access. The report offers several recommendations for expanding access, including increasing the number of pre-kindergarten slots and ensuring these slots are of high quality.
Key recommendations include:
- Developing targets to reach 75% of eligible children statewide, with a particular focus on underserved areas.
- Incentivizing private child care centers to meet NC Pre-K standards, increasing the number of available sites.
- Increasing reimbursement rates to account for rising costs and offer funds to cover new providers’ start-up costs.
- Raising teacher salaries in private centers to match those in public schools, ensuring children receive quality instruction.
- Allowing more funds for administrative costs to help providers manage their programs effectively.
These changes require increased state and county investments, but the return on investment is clear. For every dollar invested in early childhood education, communities see a return of up to $13 in the form of higher earnings, reduced crime rates, and lower spending on special education, welfare, and incarceration.
Why Universal Preschool Matters
While expanding NC Pre-K to more eligible children is crucial, universal preschool—open to all families, regardless of income—offers even greater benefits. Studies show that income-diverse preschool classrooms positively impact children from low-income families. Learning alongside their higher-income peers provides these children valuable social interactions and access to the same resources, creating a more equitable educational environment.
Counties like Durham, Forsyth, and Mecklenburg are already leading the way in expanding access to pre-kindergarten. These efforts can serve as a model for the rest of the state, but we need statewide action to ensure that all North Carolina children, regardless of where they live, have access to the early education they deserve.
Take Action for Our Future
Parents, teachers, and advocates must come together to demand more publicly funded preschool spots in North Carolina. The time for action is now. Here’s what you can do:
- Educate Yourself: Stay informed about the issues and solutions. Join NCECF’s email list to receive future advocacy packages and calls to action.
- Engage with Policymakers: Contact your local and state legislators. Let them know that expanding access to preschool is a priority. Share personal stories about how access to NC Pre-K or the lack of it has impacted your family.
- Share this article from NCECF which digs deeper into the facts and stats of the early care and learning crisis.
- Encourage them to reference the birth through five components of the Build Back Better Act for state-level policy guidance.
- Emphasize the need for immediate and substantial funding to stabilize the system. North Carolina Early Education Coalition Action Center
- Join Advocacy Groups: Partner with organizations like the North Carolina Early Childhood Foundation (NCECF) to amplify your voice. These groups provide resources, advocacy opportunities, and coordinated efforts to push for policy changes.
- Share Your Story: Personal stories are powerful. Share your experiences with child care and early education challenges on social media, tag your legislators, and start a conversation about why access to preschool matters.
Universal access to high-quality preschool is not just an investment in children—it’s an investment in our society’s future. By expanding NC Pre-K and working toward universal preschool, we can ensure that every child in North Carolina has the opportunity to succeed. Let’s work together to make that a reality.