Smart Start North Carolina

Program basics

Comprehensive, statewide early childhood initiative providing communities with funding for educational childcare, health care, and family support services
Communities have flexibility to design programming to meet specific needs
Series of public-private partnerships between the state, counties, and private, independent organizations prioritizing localized control to provide and fund critical services to families

Preschool-aged children

Not available

1993–present

Some evidence for improvement of school readiness, particularly for disadvantaged children
Children from low-income families experience greater improvements in school readiness than peers who attend other day care centers
Children from higher income families do not receive additional benefit compared to other childcare programs
Participation linked to higher third-grade test scores in reading and math and decreased likelihood of special education placement
Participating children more likely to receive vaccines and have access to regular health care
Promotes early literacy and literacy-related outcomes
Improved child health through improvements in nutrition, physical activity, and health and safety practices

Note: This content is under review
Fostering trust and collaboration with families is essential to program success. Transparency and clear communication between providers and families strengthens these relationships.
Training and oversight helps local organizations and program facilitators meet benchmarks and operate the program more effectively.
As communities may have different service needs, flexibility in offerings can increase positive outcomes and strengthen trust