Advocacy & Awareness

The early years are so defining that by the time a child turns eight, his or her third grade outcomes can predict future academic achievement and career success.  Investing in creating opportunities for high quality child development directly leads to positive outcomes for both children and the community.  When we invest in early childhood children are more likely to read on grade-level by the end of third grade, graduate from high school, stay healthier throughout their lives, get higher paying jobs and contribute more toward the costs of important public services.

The COVID-19 has starkly demonstrated that child care is part of North Carolina's critical infrastructure. The crisis has shown the extent that our state relies on the early education system so that healthcare workers, first responders, and other essential workers have been able to keep working long hours to fight the virus and care for the sick.  As state and local leaders begin the long work of recovery it is important that our early education be intact.  North Carolina parents can't go back to work without reliable, high-quality child care.

Child care and early childhood education are part of our economic infrastructure, and they are vital for families in North Carolina. Please join us in asking our elected representatives to invest in emergency funding to keep early childhood education alive. To contact your state legislators, click here.