All four-year-old children in Forsyth County will have the opportunity to enroll in an affordable, high-quality Pre‑K program.
To educate, engage, and mobilize the public and secure the commitment of civic leaders to support the establishment of a high-quality system of Pre‑K programs available to all four-year-olds in Forsyth County.
The Pre-K Priority was formed in 2014 by a group of early childhood professionals to explore how to improve the quality and number of early childhood programs available in Forsyth County. Since then, we’ve grown to include an ever-expanding number of participants who share a commitment to making high-quality, affordable Pre‑K available to every four-year-old.
We work to educate and advocate for affordable, high-quality Pre‑K programs and establish standards for a comprehensive system. We provide research on the current state of Pre‑K in Forsyth County as it relates to the state and national level, and the reasons why more investment is needed.
In April 2019, we released a report and recommendations for high-quality Pre‑K expansion, including quality standards, projected costs and a timeline for rollout. The Pre‑K Priority invites community support and input and seeks the commitment of public officials, business leaders, and neighborhood champions to bring about successful Pre‑K expansion.
The Pre‑K Priority is building a grassroots movement to support high-quality Pre‑K expansion. We’re also working directly with community leaders to turn them into champions. The good news is, we don’t have to start from scratch. There are many Forsyth County leaders and residents who already understand the importance of investing in high-quality Pre‑K. We are building on the solid standards and best practices of current programs funded by the North Carolina Pre‑K Program (NC Pre‑K) provided in classrooms in Winston-Salem Forsyth County Schools, at Family Services Head Start program, and in private community childcare centers.
We’re taking what’s promising and making it better. We’re encouraging those who “get it” to join us and in turn encourage others.
That’s where you come in!
The Pre‑K Priority Steering Committee oversees and coordinates activities leading to the adoption and implementation of an expanded, high-quality Pre‑K system in Forsyth County by:
Providing leadership for work groups as the groups refine, add, and implement recommendations
Reviewing and approving recommendations for the implementation, administration and evaluation of an expanded Pre-K system
Guiding and supporting education and advocacy activities
Increasing the number of individuals, community groups, organizations, and civic leaders committed to Pre-K expansion
Bethlehem Community Child Care Center
Child Care Network
Child Care Resource Center
Church Child Care Center
Forsyth County Department of Social Services
Forsyth Technical Community College
Family Services / Head Start
Imprints Cares
Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust
MDC
North Carolina Justice Center
North Point Academy & TLC Learning Academy
Salem College
Smart Start of Forsyth County
The Centers for Exceptional Children
The Forsyth Promise
Winston-Salem Chamber of Commerce
The Winston-Salem Foundation
Winston-Salem State University
Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools & Project Impact
YMCA of Northwest North Carolina
Convened by Family Services and supported by the Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust
© 2019 Family Services
1200 South Broad Street
Winston-Salem, NC 27101
Phone: 336.722.8173
Fax: 336.724.6491
