Stein Proclaims September Smart Start Month

Partnership for Children of the Foothills highlights programs serving families in Rutherford, McDowell and Polk counties.

Gov. Josh Stein has proclaimed September 2026 as Smart Start Month, recognizing a statewide early-childhood initiative that provides child care, health and family-support services across North Carolina.

The proclamation, signed Aug. 27 and published by the governor's office Sept. 1, recognizes more than 30 years of work by the Smart Start Network. The network operates through 75 local partnerships serving all 100 counties.

The Partnership for Children of the Foothills is the local Smart Start partnership for Rutherford, McDowell and Polk counties.

Smart Start was created in 1993 after state policymakers identified a problem with children entering school without the skills needed to succeed. The initiative was established as a public-private partnership, with independent nonprofit organizations working locally through the North Carolina Partnership for Children.

Unlike a traditional child care provider, Smart Start does not operate its own child care centers. Instead, its local partnerships work with child care providers, families and community organizations to improve the quality and accessibility of care and provide other services to young children.

The organization says its work includes helping working parents pay for child care, providing training and resources to child care teachers, supporting early literacy and connecting families with health and developmental services.

Smart Start services are not limited to low-income families. Depending on the program, services can include developmental, hearing and dental screenings, assistance finding higher-quality child care and family-support programs.

How Smart Start works

Each local partnership has a board made up of community members who determine how Smart Start funds should be used to address local needs.

The majority of Smart Start funding is directed toward improving child care quality and making care more affordable and accessible, according to the organization. Funds also support health and family services.

The Partnership for Children of the Foothills said its local work includes programs such as Play to Learn, Part Day and Circle of Parents.

The partnership plans to highlight those programs and stories from participating families throughout September.

“Smart Start Month gives us an opportunity to celebrate not only the programs we provide, but the families, early childhood professionals and community partners who make this work possible every day,” said Vanessa Parton, executive director of the Partnership for Children of the Foothills.

“The first five years of a child’s life create a foundation that can influence learning, health and wellbeing for years to come,” Parton said. “When we invest in young children and support the adults who care for them, we are strengthening families and building stronger communities throughout the Foothills.”

Smart Start is different from NC Pre-K and Head Start.

NC Pre-K is a state-funded prekindergarten program specifically serving eligible 4-year-olds. Smart Start begins serving children at birth through child care, health and family-support services.

Head Start, meanwhile, is a federally funded program primarily serving eligible low-income children and families. Smart Start is funded through state and private sources and provides a broader range of services.

Smart Start also is not North Carolina's primary child care subsidy program. Families seeking help paying for child care can apply through their local Department of Social Services, while Smart Start partnerships may provide additional assistance and services.

Results cited by Smart Start

Smart Start says its programs have contributed to improvements in child care quality and developmental screening.

The organization reports that the percentage of children attending higher-quality four- and five-star child care programs increased substantially after the initiative began tracking the measure.

Smart Start also points to a 2011 Duke University study that found children in counties receiving relatively greater Smart Start funding when those children were younger later had higher third-grade reading and math scores and lower special-education placement rates.

The organization says developmental screening also increased in participating counties following implementation of the Assuring Better Child Health and Development program.

Those results are part of Smart Start's argument for continued public investment in early childhood.

The broader issue remains a subject of debate in North Carolina, where families continue to face high child care costs and providers report difficulty recruiting and retaining workers.

Supporters argue that government investment in early childhood helps parents remain in the workforce while improving children's readiness for school and strengthening the future workforce.

Critics of expanded public spending question how much taxpayer money should be directed toward child care and how effectively programs demonstrate measurable results. Some favor concentrating assistance on families with the greatest financial need or relying more heavily on private providers and parental choice.

Smart Start's public-private model is intended to address some of those concerns by giving local boards discretion over how funds are used while maintaining a statewide network.

The governor's proclamation takes the position that early childhood investment has long-term benefits. It cites potential improvements in educational attainment, earnings, health and other outcomes.

For families in the Foothills, the Partnership for Children of the Foothills is using September to focus on the services available locally.

“Our work has always depended on partnership,” Parton said. “Whether someone is a parent, educator, health professional, employer, community leader or donor, there is a role for everyone in helping children get the strong start they deserve.”