North Carolina continues to be a leader in early childhood across the country

As governor, one of my top priorities is supporting our children from cradle to career. As a father and as a public school tutor, I’ve seen how a child’s earliest experiences form the foundation for lifelong learning and health. And the science is overwhelming showing how much it matters.

It’s critical that we continue to develop and grow strong education programs that are child and teacher focused, starting with strong early learning programs for our youngest children.

In August of 2018, I signed an Executive Order instructing the NC Department of Health and Human Services to lead the development of an Early Childhood Action Plan. Nearly 1,500 people representing families, teachers, experts in early childhood and other leaders provided feedback in drafting the plan.

The plan is already making life better for children and their families. It led to my Executive Order granting paid parental leave for thousands of state employees and improved pregnancy accommodations in the workplace. We’ve made a lot of progress in early childhood, but there is still much more to do.

This week, I announced that North Carolina has been awarded $56 million in federal funding to advance our action plan goals. Over the next seven years the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services will use the funds to help our state make greater strides in young children’s well-being and early learning, as well as invest in helping teachers of young children get better support as professionals.

Federal Funds to Fuel State and Local Work

North Carolina children deserve the chance to grow, thrive, and succeed, starting in early childhood. Today, too many of our state’s children face difficult challenges, some beginning as early as infancy. Too many children still don’t have access to high-quality early childhood education.

The new funding comes from two federal grants awarded to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS), including a $40.2 million Preschool Development Grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families and a $16 million grant from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

The Preschool Development Grant invests in early childhood educators and other initiatives to improve early learning. Early childhood teachers work long hours preparing and interacting with our children, and this grant recognizes their time constraints and will help them build skills without having to leave the classroom. By providing job-embedded professional development and coaching, the grant removes barriers that make it difficult for teachers to pursue higher education.

The CMS grant focuses on a smaller group with big challenges — Medicaid-insured children through Integrated Care for Kids (InCK). InCK funds are invested to better coordinate healthcare with other critical early childhood staples like schooling, food and housing. Medicaid and its partners will design and implement ways to pay smarter for care and will help by offering incentives for positive health and well-being outcomes for children.

As I have traveled across our state and heard from our early childhood professionals, I’ve been moved by their drive and passion for their children. I’ve listened to their stories, with tears running down their faces, as they have told me the barriers they face in the classroom every day. I have seen firsthand the important work that they are doing to support our children.

It is on us to support our children and early childhood educators as we work toward having a healthier and better educated state where people have the opportunity to live a more abundant and purposeful life.