Early Care and Learning Council June 6, 2012 Stephanie Fanjul

1. Early Care and Learning Council June 6, 2012 Stephanie Fanjul President, The North Carolina Partnership for Children, Inc.

2. Overview of Presentation • Today, we will talk about: • North Carolina’s experience building an early childhood system, • The importance of the birth to five years, • The value of high quality early childhood experiences, and • What’s at stake for New York and the nation.

3. Background: What is Smart Start? • Smart Start inspires and connects people to make immediate and lasting change in the health and well-being of North Carolina’s young children. It is a network of nonprofit local partnerships led by a state-level organization (NCPC) working together.

4. Background: What does Smart Start Do? • Educate that early experiences have lasting impact on later learning. • Establish innovative, high-performing programs that increase young children’s health, development, and school readiness. • Build strong relationships and shared goals between people, programs, and communities. • Increase investments in early childhood education, health, and family support. • Produce and use data to identify needs and trends, demonstrate results, and promote continuous quality improvement.

5. Background: Smart Start Works • More children attend high quality care. In FY 2010-11: • 67% of all children in early care and education attend 4- and 5-star programs as compared to 33% in 2001. • 78% of children whose families received subsidy attend 4- and 5-star centers (compared to 30% in 2001). • A 2011 Duke University study found children had higher third grade reading and math scores and fewer special education placements in counties that received more funding for Smart Start when those children were younger.

6. Why Does it Matter?

7. Why Does it Matter? The Education Continuum: The first 2,000 days are critical. “There are only 2,000 days between the newborn baby and when that child will show up in kindergarten. It is urgent that we use the best scientific info to make sure we support all our children so they can succeed in school. Our children can’t wait.” Dr. Andrew Meltzoff, co-director University of Washington Institute for Learning and Brain Sciences

8. What Happens in the First 2,000 Days? Children’s earliest experiences literally determine how their brains are wired; lay the groundwork for future health; and form the foundation of the social and emotional skills needed for academic and workplace success.

9. What Happens in the First 2,000 Days? Today, neuroscientists are able to show that early experiences actually shape the architecture of the brain.

10. What Happens in the First 2,000 Days? Early experiences are built into our bodies. They shape the wiring of the brain and impact how biological systems develop. Scientific evidence suggests many common diseases such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart disease are linked to processes and experiences that occurred in early childhood.

11. What Happens in the First 2,000 Days? Academic ability alone does not make for a successful adult. Social and emotional skills are equally important in determining success in school, work, and life. Social and emotional skills include the ability to self-regulate, manage mood and control anger, self-motivate, manage relationships, empathy, and the ability to relate to and influence others.

12. What Do We Get When We Invest in the First 2,000 Days? High quality early education yields: • higher graduation rates, • reduced crime, higher earnings, and • better jobs. Economists estimate that every dollar invested in high quality early education produces a 10% return through increased personal achievement and social productivity.

13. Has to Be Quality Low quality child care has lasting negative effects. Poor quality care can diminish potential and lead to poor cognitive, social, and emotional developmental outcomes.

14. Investing in Quality North Carolina has a strong early childhood system. It is the collective strength of all partners and the connections between us that results in shared successes. • Quality Rating Improvement System in Licensing • Division of Child Development Early Education • T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood® • Child Care WAGE$® • NC PreK • Child Care Resource & Referral • Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute, UNC • Community College System

15. Investing in Quality in New York • Voluntary 5-star rating and improvement system • Provide clear, organized, cost-effective way to assess, improve and community quality of New York’s early care and learning programs. • Benefits children, parents, early care and learning field, policymakers, taxpayers, and donors.

16. Investing in Quality in New York

17. There is Urgency: Academic Success “Our children deserve nothing less than a strong start to a life filled with opportunity, and it all starts with successful early learning programs.” “Systematically improving early education has the potential to benefit the nation for generations to come. It is simply one of the most cost-effective investments America can make in its future.” Arne Duncan, U.S. Secretary of Education

18. There is Urgency: National Security United States facing a crisis because 75% of 17- to 24-year olds cannot meet the eligibility criteria to serve in the military. Children’s issues needed to be understood as paramount to America’s existence. Major General Charles D. Luckey Assistant to the Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff for Reserve Matters Joint Staff Lead Iraq Transition

19. There is Urgency: Economic Security “Early childhood education has a tremendous impact on the national economic security and the viability of the American dream.” U.S. Chamber of Commerce Institute for a Competitive Workforce Only 37% of New York public school students graduate “college and career ready.” America’s Edge

20. There is Urgency: Economic Security “We urge you to recognize our concern that early childhood education is critical to the continuum that produces a strong and competitive workforce, support our current workforce and their families and will help our state maintain and excel in global competitiveness.” Greater Smithfield-Selma Area Chamber of Commerce in a letter to legislative leaders

21. There is Urgency: Economic Security In 2009, 62% of children under six live in families where all parents work. Every dollar in New York invested in early care and education generates a total of $1.86 in sales of local goods and services throughout the state, generating as much or more activity than investments in all other economic sectors, including manufacturing, construction and transportation. America’s Edge

22. There is Urgency: Crime Prevention “High-quality early education is a critical strategy to help reduce crime, lower prison costs and save taxpayers money.” Ralph Evangelous, Wilmington Chief of Police North Carolina spent $1.36 billion in FY 2009-10 on corrections. New York spent about 2.5 X that!

23. Everyone Benefits Early childhood investments produced sustained results at the local, state, and national level and are critical to keeping the United States competitive in a global market. With quality early childhood education, children will be school ready; have higher graduation rates and grow into productive citizens and valuable employees.

24. www.first2000days.org Learn more about why the importance of early childhood investments at www.first2000days.org. Learn more about Smart Start at www.smartstart.organd: www.facebook.com/smartstart twitter.com/ncsmartstart www.youtube.com/ncsmartstart