Smart Start is North Carolina's nationally recognized and award-winning early childhood initiative designed to ensure that young children enter school healthy and ready to succeed.

Smart Start is a public-private initiative that provides early education funding to all of the state's 100 counties. Smart Start funds are administered at the local level through local nonprofit organizations called Local Partnerships. The North Carolina Partnership for Children (NCPC) is the statewide nonprofit organization that provides oversight and technical assistance for local partnerships. Services at the local level range depending on local needs. Funding for Smart Start is currently $192 million in state funds. Smart Start has raised more than $200 million in donations since it began.

Exerps from the Smart Start Presentation
Early Education System for North Carolina

Karen Ponder, President
North Carolina Partnership for Children

Smart Start History
Created in 1993 by Governor Jim Hunt
First year, 12 partnerships serving 18 counties
Planning and funding initiative
Local decision making linked to outcomes for young children
Why? Because in 1993:
20% of children under five lived in poverty
High infant mortality rate
65% of mothers of children under six worked outside the home
Worst child care standards in the nation
Ten Years Later:
Moved from worst immunization record to one of the top 3
Seen an increase in children enrolled in quality care –
from 20% to 70%
Contributed to improvement in child care and teacher education
Today, over 82% have college education
Research Proves Positive Effect on Children
Children enrolled in facilities that received Smart Start assistance demonstrated higher skills in: Language, Math, Social skills
In 2003, Smart Start Provided:
Subsidy to working parents of 57,164 children
98,387 health and developmental screenings
Early care and education training in 6,437 facilities for 25,979 educators and administrators
HIGHLIGHTS FROM ECONOMIC IMPACT STUDY:
NC has over 8,000 child care facilities
Employs over 46,000 tax payers
Gross receipts in excess of $1.5 billion