Press Release:
The Courier Tribune: Cooper proposes Smart Start expansion funding
By Judi Brinegar
May 3, 2017
In his budget proposal, Common Ground Solutions for North Carolina, Gov. Roy Cooper proposed adding $15 million to the Smart Start program, a public private partnership focused on early childhood health and education.
If approved by the state legislature, Randolph County Partnership for Children stands to gain $221,840 in much-needed funding.
Cooper's recommended increase would be the first state-funded increase in the program since 2008 and it would provide for increased support and flexibility at the local level to improve outcomes and better prepare children for school.
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Lisa Hayworth is the executive director at Randolph County Partnership for Children in Asheboro.
"Certainly, I applaud our governor for his passion about early childhood education and commitment to our state's youngest residents," she said.
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Hayworth said that her organization follows a rigorous process for allocating such funds.
"It would be exciting to find ourselves in a position to boost any number of our programmatic areas," she added.
"Increases might allow us to provide more technical assistance in the childcare centers so that they can continue to improve their quality, or provide more support to early educators as they pursue educational plans and heightened credentials. Or it might mean we strengthen our family support programs so that families of young children can be resilient and child-focused. There are many worthwhile possibilities to consider, and I hope our board finds itself faced with this responsibility."
News and Record: NC Gov. proposing more than $500,000 in increased funding for early childhood partnership in Guilford County
By Jessie Pounds
May 2, 2017
North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper announced today the specific funding increases he is proposing to provide to each county in North Carolina for Smart Start, a public-private partnership for early childhood health and education.
Guilford County's local partnership would get an increase of $562,812 under the proposal, out of a total increase of $15 million statewide. If approved by the legislature, Cooper said, it would be the first increase in state funding for the program since 2008.
WNCT: Gov. Cooper proposes $15M for childhood health, education program
May 2, 2017
RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCT) - Gov. Roy Cooper is proposing adding $15 million to the Smart Start program, a public-private partnership focused on early childhood health and education.
The increase would be the first state-funded increase in the program since 2008.
"Investing in our kids by supporting programs like Smart Start should be a bipartisan priority," said Cooper in a news release.
"Education doesn't start on the first day of kindergarten, and expanding Smart Start will help more children across the state get the support they need to show up at school ready to learn. I hope legislators will join me in pushing for adequate investment in this critical program."
A North Carolina Office of State Budget and Management analysis of North Carolina Partnership for Children, Inc. data broke down how much funding that would amount to for each local partnership:
Beaufort/Hyde $83,936
Carteret $72,487
Craven $178,730
Duplin $118,653
Lenoir -Greene $161,193
Martin/Pitt $279,638
Onslow $432,480
Pamlico $20,226
Tyrrell-Washington $41,708
WNCT: Gov. Cooper proposes child, dependent care tax credit
May 3, 2017
Governor Roy Cooper has proposed creating a child and dependent care tax credit he said in a news release will help working families afford the cost of child care.
"Good child care is expensive, and this credit will help bring down the costs that working families face," said Cooper.
"This tax break will help ensure that children all across the state will show up at kindergarten ready to learn. As the General Assembly begins their budget process, I urge them to include this child and dependent care tax credit that would benefit over 200,000 North Carolina families."
A North Carolina Office of State Budget and Management analysis of IRS, North Carolina Department of Revenue and Office of State Budget and Management data broke down how many estimated eligible filers would benefit by county:
Beaufort: 600
Bertie: 280
Carteret: 1,000
Craven: 1,950
Duplin: 690
Greene: 250
Hyde: 30
Jones: 110
Lenoir: 880
Martin: 180
Onslow: 4,660
Pamlico: 120
Pitt: 3,880
Tyrrell: 40
Washington: 110
- Contact: Ford Porter
- govpress@nc.gov