Together we can achieve a bold vision…
Each North Carolina child has a strong foundation for life-long health, education, and well-being, supported by a comprehensive and equitable care and education system, from prenatal through third grade.
How We Do Our Work
We work to promote understanding, spearhead collaboration, and advance policies to ensure each North Carolina child is on track for lifelong success by the end of third grade. Much of this work happens through our initiatives:
- NC Pathways to Grade-Level Reading
- Family Forward NC
- NC Campaign for Grade-Level Reading
- Care and Learning (CandL)
- EarlyWell
- Local Funding for Early Learning
Supporting Children’s Optimal Development
Each child can have the opportunity to be on track by third grade with aligned policies and practices rooted in child development, including health and development on track beginning at birth, supported and supportive families and communities, and high-quality birth through third grade learning environments with regular attendance. Learn about the issues that support children’s optimal development beginning at birth.
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Latest News
NCECF’s Next Leader Selected
The North Carolina Early Childhood Foundation proudly announces that Theresa Roedersheimer, a longtime advocate for our state’s young children and families, will become our next Executive Director. Her first day will be May 20, 2024.
Theresa will bring her…
Leap Ahead: Plan NOW for Summer Learning 2024
Hop into summer with the North Carolina Early Childhood Foundation (NCECF) and gear up to make summer reading a “ribbiting” adventure for our little learners!
Download the 2024 Toolkit for Summer Learning to help you prepare for the upcoming season…
Meet Our New Pathways Data & Policy Assistant!
We’re delighted to welcome Peyton Upchurch as our new Pathways Data & Policy Assistant! She’ll be responsible for supporting policy and practice brief development and data updating efforts related to the Pathways to Grade-Level Reading Initiative.
A native of…
Five Mental Health Focused Recently Released Pathways to Grade-Level Reading Action Briefs
Pathways to Strong and Resilient Mental Health for Infants and Young ChildrenRecently, we released the fourth of the five-part Pathways to Grade-Level Reading Policy and Practice Action Toolkit to provide guidance for how policymakers, advocates, community non-profits, the business…