NC S439

Appropriates $12,000,000 for fiscal year 2017-2018 to the Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education to eliminate the NC Pre-Kindergarten Program waitlist statewide.

Appropriates an additional $24,400,000 for fiscal year 2018-2019 for the same purpose, totaling $36,400,000 over two years.

Cites evaluation results showing that NC Pre-K program participants exhibited significant learning gains across all domains and that growth rates exceeded normal developmental growth.

Notes that dual-language learners and children at different levels of English proficiency made significant gains in the program.

Becomes effective July 1, 2017.