State-level policies and practices directly impact the lives of young children and their families in North Carolina. State rules and regulations impact local investments and policy solutions as well.
The North Carolina Early Childhood Foundation promotes state-level early childhood policy and practice solutions by:
- Curating, synthesizing and sharing practices and policies proven to improve children’s outcomes on the measures that matter for early literacy and well-being.
- Promoting actionable strategies and providing practical guidance about what families, professionals, institutions, communities and policy makers can do to advance progress on young children’s literacy and well-being.
- Convening organizations and individuals that serve as statewide leaders in achieving progress on early literacy and child well-being and actively pursue progress as a shared purpose.
- Advancing state and local early childhood policy and understanding of what is needed and what works.
- Tracking state budgets and legislation and reporting on early childhood investments and policy changes.
Featured Resources
Report/Fact Sheet/Issue Brief
2017 Cost of NC Pre-K Study Fact Sheet
In 2016, the General Assembly passed legislation requiring the North Carolina Department of Health and Human
Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE), in consultation with the Department of
Public Instruction (DPI), to study the cost and effectiveness of NC Pre-K. It mandated that DCDEE submit a report
on findings and recommendations by February 1, 2017. This Fact Sheet outlines the findings of the report submitted by DCDEE.
Report/Fact Sheet/Issue Brief
Birth-to-8 Provisions in FY 2017-19 Budget
This table outlines several provisions in the budget related to children ages birth through eight. It includes a comparison of the Governor's Proposal, the budgets passed by the House and Senate and the final Conference Report.
Report/Fact Sheet/Issue Brief
The North Carolina Foundations for Early Learning and Development (Foundations)
The North Carolina Foundations for Early Learning and Development (Foundations) provides guidance on the importance of play. This resource could be used to train teachers of young children, develop curricula, and create shared goals across early education and kindergarten programs to re-focus on play and hands-on learning. The Foundations are a set of developmental standards that describe children’s learning and development from birth to age five.
Report/Fact Sheet/Issue Brief
AttendaNCe Counts: Chronic Absence in North Carolina
This issue brief - updated in 2018 to include the most recent chronic absence data - examines the state of the state around chronic absenteeism policies and practices in North Carolina.