Organized in 1996, Wake County SmartStart (WCSS) is a nonprofit organization committed to working to ensure that every child in Wake County is prepared to enter school healthy and ready to succeed.

Years of research indicates the critical nature of investing in children in the first five years of life. A high quality preschool education positively impacts a child throughout his life, as this child is more likely to be well-educated, have better job prospects and contribute to their communities. When a child grows up in an environment in which his developmental needs are met, in the long run society pays fewer costs. When we invest in a child during his first five years, that child is less likely to require special education, drop out of school, be confined in juvenile detention, depend on welfare benefits, and commit crime. An investment in a child in his first five years of life also translates to an investment in the future of our communities, as the children today are the adults of tomorrow.