Investing in early childhood education, health, and family support to give every child a strong start.
25%
Of North Carolina's Children Enrolled in Child Care
89%
Of NC Voters Consider Low Child Care Teacher Wages a Serious Problem
$156M
Invested to Improve Outcomes for NC Children
(From The NC Smart Start Annual Report '23-24)
Parton's Imagination Library
Register Your Child Now For FREE Books
With over 270 million free, age-appropriate books mailed to date, Dolly’s Imagination Library is just getting started, and there seems to be no slowing down in sight!
Experiences during early childhood literally shape the structure of the brain. Because today’s children are tomorrow’s leaders, parents and workers, everyone has a stake in making sure that all children have the experiences they need to thrive. Smart Start brings together all the people involved in a young child’s life—families, teachers, doctors, caregivers, social workers, and many others—to ensure every child has all they need for healthy growth and development.
