Early Childhood Education Subject Guide

Early Years improves the quality of child care in North Carolina for all children by helping families find child care, offering informational events for families, professional development opportunities and programs for providers and comprehensive child care research for policymakers.

Founded in 2014, NC Child works to eliminate the barriers that stand in kids’ way. Our mission: Advocate for policies that improve the lives of all North Carolina children.

The NC Resource Center was established in 1995 by the NC Division of Public Health as a collaborative effort with the Division of Child Development and Early Education, the North Carolina Partnership for Children/Smart Start, and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC). The NC Resource Center’s mission is to promote healthy and safe indoor and outdoor environments in early care and education settings through child care health consultation.

Children’s Services provides health care, financial assistance and access to nutrition programs to children who require extra support. Find a child care provider, learn about child support payments and enforcement and make sure that your newborn has the proper care regardless of your financial status.

The mission of the Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) is to ensure the health and safety of children in child care programs, to promote quality child care by implementing evidenced-based standards and to increase access to quality child care to families and children across North Carolina.

The North Carolina Education Directory is made available by the Department of Public Instruction’s Communication and Information Services division as a service to educators and others interested in public education. The directory provides information on the State Board of Education; the Department of Public Instruction; and local school districts, charter schools, special and federal schools, and postsecondary schools.

The North Carolina Association for the Education of Young Children (NCAEYC) is the state affiliate of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). We are a membership association for anyone who is concerned with the development and education of children ages birth through eight. We advance a diverse, dynamic early childhood profession and support all who care for, educate, and work on behalf of young children.

The mission of the North Carolina Institute for Child Development Professionals is to promote the implementation of a comprehensive professional development and recognition system that links education and compensation for the early care and education workforce to ensure high quality care and education services for young children and their families. The Institute is a field-based, non-profit organization that provides both free and fee-based services.

Smart Start began in 1993 and is a key part of North Carolina’s early childhood system. We work in all 100 counties through 75 nonprofit Local Partnerships, partnering with families to help children grow and thrive. We focus on early care and education, family support, literacy, and the health and development of children ages 0–5.

Durham's Partnership for Children leads community strategies for children birth-5 and their families to ensure that every child in Durham enters school healthy and ready to succeed. We administer the Smart Start initiative, NC Pre-K and Early Head Start, as well as community-based programs that promote healthy development and learning and enhance access to high quality care.

The UNC Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute transforms the lives of children and families through interdisciplinary research, evaluation, implementation, technical assistance, and outreach. We generate knowledge, inform policies, and support practices to promote positive developmental and educational outcomes for children of all backgrounds and all abilities from the earliest years.

Our organization is a proud member of the Durham County Cooperative Extension and provides unwavering support to local families with children. We offer a comprehensive range of resources and programs that are designed to strengthen families and promote healthy child development. Our services include positive parenting workshops, breastfeeding support, car seat safety, literacy-based workshops and a free clothing program that provides clothing up to size 5/6.