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We are a coalition of community organizations and individuals committed to improving the number of affordable, high-quality Pre-K programs available to all four-year-olds in Forsyth County.
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Of the more than 4,500 four-year-olds in Forsyth County every year, only 1/3 are enrolled in publicly funded Pre-K. Lack of funding for additional Pre-K slots, lack of teachers, inadequate teacher pay, and the high cost of Pre-K are just a few of the issues that keep more children from accessing high-quality Pre-K. In North Carolina, the average annual cost for full day care for a 4-year-old is equivalent to the average annual cost of tuition and fees at a public college.
Too many children in Forsyth County are not reaching their full potential. Nearly half are not proficient in reading by third grade. From there, it’s hard to catch up. A Harvard University study ranks Forsyth County as the 5th worst out of 2,873 counties in the nation for helping poor children move up the economic ladder.
For the past decade assessments of school readiness and third‐grade academic proficiency of children in the Winston‐ Salem/Forsyth County Schools have registered persistent disparities among children of color and economic disadvantage. These results are the product of a systemic failure to address social and racial inequities.
The North Carolina Pre‐K Program (NC Pre‐K) is the primary source of public funding for quality Pre‐K programs that benefit low‐income and minority children. Forsyth County ranks at or near the bottom of North Carolina counties in terms of the funding it receives to enroll the more than 2,700 children in the county that are eligible for NC Pre‐K. In 2019‐20 only 27% of eligible children in the county were enrolled as compared with 67% in neighboring Guilford County.
In 2023, Forsyth County Commissioners and the City of Winston Salem approved over $4M of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to support increased quality standards in 32 Pre-K pilot classrooms representative of the Pre-K landscape across Forsyth County. Several urban counties in NC are allocating local tax dollars to make significant, strategic investments to increase the availability and quality of their Pre‐K programs. Local government in Forsyth County has yet to make such long-term investments.
We can do better. The Pre-K Priority educates and advocates across a number of key initiatives to address the critical barriers that keep more children from accessing the early learning environment most right for them.
Pre‑K is one of the best decisions you can make for your child’s education and future success. Answer five quick questions, and we’ll guide you to the best Pre‑K options for your family in Forsyth County.
In 2023, Forsyth County Commissioners and The City of Winston-Salem approved over $4M of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) grant funds to support increased quality standards in a model cohort of 32 Pre-K classrooms representative of the Pre-K landscape across Forsyth County.
Passionate about teaching young children and creating the foundation they need to grow and thrive? If you are a high school student or considering a 2-year or 4-year program in Early Childhood Education, teaching Pre-K may be the right career for you. As one of a child’s first classroom teachers, you’ll hold a unique and special place in education—not to mention in the hearts of proud and grateful families.
Families who can access a Pre-K program of their choice are more likely to enter the workforce and stay employed—helping build a healthier, more equitable and vibrant economy in Forsyth County.
Childcare and Pre-K options in Forsyth County extend past public and private options. As our families go to work, many care for young children at home or prefer to leave them with family members or individuals that they trust.
The Family, Friends & Neighbors Caregiver Network (FFN) supports community members who care for young children ages 0–5 in their homes.
Ensuring that every child begins school on track academically and socially is one of the best investments we can make as parents, employers and citizens. I support access to affordable, high-quality Pre-K for every 4-year old in Forsyth County.
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