After Kidonomics - Taking the Work Forward in Wake

The 2018 Emerging Issues Forum, Kidonomics: Investing Early in Our Future, convened national experts and local stakeholders around how critical early investments are for desired workforce, economic, and education outcomes. Leaders like Jim Hansen, Regional President of PNC Bank, laid out the disparity building between where we are now and where we have to get to: "67% of North Carolina jobs will require degrees beyond high school by 2020, but only 42% of NC citizens currently have that level of education."

The Blue Ribbon Commission (BRC), formed following Year 1 of Kidonomics to study local funding options and make policy recommendations, shared their key findings which included:

• Private and public capital play different - and complementary - roles in early childhood development.
• While local communities can and should invest in early childhood development, their capacity varies greatly across the state.
• For all investments in early childhood development, we should demand results based on outcomes, backed up by the rigorous use of data and evaluation. We must pay particular attention to closing gaps in development outcomes across groups in our state.

WCSS shares the belief that data and outcomes should guide our investments. As a system leader in Wake County, Executive Director Pam Dowdy spoke on a Kidonomics panel with other regional leaders about the local methods, impact, and connections needed to support early childhood. For the past two years, WCSS has requested and received increased funding at the county level, serving as a case study on BRC recommendations. 

AT&T, PNC, Capitol Broadcasting, and the Raleigh, Cary, Knightdale, and Wake Forest Chambers were among the many that signed a pledge of support for the study's findings. Innovative funding solutions continue to be explored to advance access.

WCSS-John Rex Endowment Partnership Growing Strong

WCSS staff presented recently at the national Smart Start Conference. The presentations highlighted effective collaborations on three John Rex Endowment-funded programs. Find more information about the WCSS presentations on our website.

John Rex Endowment is also closely connected to Kim Shaw, WCSS board member and owner of A Safe Place Child Enrichment Center, who has been honored as one of Farm to Fork NC's Local Food Heroes of 2018. A Safe Place maintains an urban mini-farm in a food desert, and it hosts the Farm to Child Care and Shape NC* programs, both of which are also funded by John Rex Endowment and encourage healthy lifestyles for children.

*Shape NC: Healthy Starts for Young Children, an initiative of Smart Start and BCBSNC Foundation is funded by the Corporation for National and Community Service, Social Innovation Fund.

WCSS Celebrates Award-Winning Pre-K Teacher

NC Pre-K would not rank #1 nationally without #1 teachers! We are proud to support the NC Pre-K program at Early Preschool and Learning Center in Raleigh and their award-winning teacher, Tawanna Terry.

Terry won the Child Care Services Association's Mary Y. Bridgers Child Care Provider Award this spring. This award is given to a Triangle child care provider in recognition of their professional commitment and outstanding care to children. Terry has taught in an NC Pre-K classroom at Early Preschool since 2004. With the support of her director, Terry's professional development has advanced her credentials and leadership skills. She mentors new NC Pre-K lead teachers, and she opens her room to other teachers as a demonstration classroom.

YOU are invited to be part of the Pre-K success story! If you would like to attend a Pre-K graduation* with us, please contact Elizabeth Weichel, Communications Coordinator, to confirm the details.

*Pre-K graduations will take place the last week of May through the first two weeks of June.

WCSS Welcomes New Board Member

We are thrilled to announce our newest board member, Joe White! Joe is the Director of Finance and Business for NCSU Libraries, and since 2016 he has been serving as a member of the WCSS Finance Committe.

"For several years I worked at the NC Office of State Budget and Management overseeing the Division of Child Development and Early Education's budget where I learned the importance and value of early childhood programs such as Smart Start, NC Pre-K, and child care subsidies. I also started my career as an educator and now have three young children of my own and believe strongly in ensuring all children have an opportunity to be successful. I hope that, in some small way, my serving on the board helps WCSS achieve its mission to push success for all children and families." - Joe White

Click here to see the full board roster.

WCSS is Rebranding!

Are you ready for a new look? We are! Stay tuned in June when we unveil our updated brand identity.

Wake County SmartStart (WCSS) works to ensure children, birth to five, are prepared for success in school and in life.

Questions? Contact Elizabeth Weichel at eweichel@wakesmartstart.org or by phone at (919) 723-9282.