Early Literacy
Early Literacy
Children's early school performance improves when their families are involved in helping them learn to read. Smart Start supports increasing investments in programs that encourage families to engage in daily reading habits early for later school success. By combining early literacy initiatives with effective family strengthening programs, an environment that encourages strong parent-child interaction and an early love of reading is created.  
Over the past five years, Smart Start has expanded early literacy programs.  Literacy affects our state's ability to create a workforce needed to compete in the global market and ensure our future prosperity.  Recognizing that a majority of language development occurs in the first few years of life, Smart Start provides programs that develop early literacy skills needed for success in school, work, and life. Smart Start brings proven, national programs to the children and families of North Carolina. 

The General Assembly has continued to support efforts that ensure our state's children are reaching proficiently by the third grade, including dedicating public funds to early literacy programs such as  Dolly Parton's Imagination Library. These programs assist parents in developing habits of daily reading with their children, and assist children in discovering an early love of reading. These programs make sure that there are books in homes, creating literacy-rich environments. Parents also learn about the most effective ways to engage their child in a book.  
(Smart Start Annual Report 2016-2017)
The Iredell County Partnership for Young Children offers the following programs to support early literacy:
Share by: