Today, the N.C. Child Care Coalition commends Gov. Perdue for restoring $43 million in funding to early childhood programs: $18.2 million restores 48 percent of the Smart Start budget and $25 million will restore 77 percent of the N.C. pre-K budget. In addition, the governor made no cuts to child-care subsidies, the desperately needed funding to support families going back and staying at work.
These additions in the Governor's budget underscore the importance of early childhood education to building an education system where all children can be successful.
It is our hope that the General Assembly will agree that these investments in early childhood programs will make an important difference for our young children, their families, child care businesses, employers and our state's future economic well-being.
— Annette Ethridge
N.C. Child Care Coalition
Raleigh
