Policy Prescription #2: Making early childhood education a top policy priority

Welcome to the second in a special series of reports from NC Policy Watch entitled “Policy Prescriptions.” Researched and written by Samone Oates-Bullock, a talented Masters student in Public Administration at North Carolina Central University in Durham and a Fellow at the Raleigh-based A.J. Fletcher Foundation, Policy Prescriptions represents an effort to inject something into the North Carolina policy debate that’s been sorely lacking in recent years – a simple and straightforward list of progressive, forward-looking agenda items.

Some of the recommendations in Policy Prescriptions are large and will be familiar to those who follow state policy debates. Others will be less familiar and might even be described as addressing “niche” matters. All of them, however, have two important things in common: a) they reject the tired and discredited notion pushed by state legislative leaders in recent years that government is impotent to tackle the central problems that confront our state, and b) they champion genuine equality of opportunity and a stubborn rejection of North Carolina’s segregated past and its lingering legacy once and for all.

During this week and next, as state lawmakers return to Raleigh for the 2018 legislative session, look for a total of ten Policy Prescription reports – both on the main Policy Watch website and The Progressive Pulse blog. In addition to provoking debate in the immediate days ahead, it is our hope and expectation that these recommendations will plant seeds that may sprout for the fall campaign season and in future General Assemblies.

We welcome your feedback and suggestions.

Policy Prescription #2 – Investing in our future: Making early childhood education a top policy priority

The first five years of a child’s life are arguably the most important for their development. Research confirms that a child’s early experiences lay the foundation that influences their future health, learning skills, social and emotional abilities, and overall growth. A strong investment in Pre-K and early childhood programs is the first step in ensuring that children from all backgrounds have the tools they need to reach their highest potential.