Brains are built, not born. Parents and caregivers need strong support to lay the groundwork for a lifetime.
Nearly half of NC third-graders are not reading on grade-level. These kids will struggle to graduate high school on time, and are less likely to succeed as adults. We can turn this problem around by focusing on children’s earliest learning.
NC Child envisions making high-quality early care and education available to every family. All children can benefit from the brain-building power of strong early childhood programs. Children from low-income and low-literacy households often show the greatest gains. NC Child works to protect, strengthen, and grow the key pieces of North Carolina’s early education system: Smart Start, NC Pre-K, and child care subsidies.