The "Healthy North Carolina 2030" report, released in January of 2020, outlines measurable goals to improve the well-being of North Carolinians. The NC Department of Health and Human Services "2025 North Carolina State Health Assessment," a mid-cycle review, reinforces this focus, highlighting early childhood development, prevention of adverse childhood experiences, infant and maternal health, and early literacy as key priorities for improving long-term health outcomes. Among the top six key indicators of health is Third Grade Reading Proficiency, which is tied to lifelong learning, health, and family stability.1, 2
Reading at grade level by the end of third grade is a strong indicator that children were developmentally prepared when they entered kindergarten. However, reading readiness begins well before a child starts school. Early experiences, family engagement, and community support that promote healthy development and early learning are essential to building that readiness.
Research on early brain development helps explain why these early experiences matter. During the first years of life, the brain develops rapidly, forming neural connections that support language, learning, and social-emotional skills. By age 3, a child’s brain has reached approximately 80% of its adult size, and by age 5 it is about 90% developed.3, 4 These early years provide a critical window for developing the building blocks of literacy, with foundational skills emerging through positive interactions with caregivers.
Daily experiences that stimulate brain development—such as exploration, play, and responsive relationships—help build and strengthen a child’s development in ways that last a lifetime. Talking, reading, singing, and playing with young children foster vocabulary, comprehension, and early communication skills. These positive, responsive interactions support healthy brain development and lay the groundwork for later reading success.
While early literacy begins at home, it is strengthened through programs such as Book Babies (via Book Harvest), Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library (DPIL), Raising a Reader, and Read and Grow with Me, as well as family support programs like Kaleidoscope Play & Learn and Nurturing Parenting Programs.
Strengthening early literacy across North Carolina depends on coordinated efforts among families, communities, and early childhood systems. These efforts include:
Efforts to improve early literacy contribute not only to educational success but also to long-term health and well-being. Children who enter school prepared to learn are more likely to read proficiently by third grade, reducing the need for later remediation and supporting stronger educational outcomes. Over time, these gains are associated with improved health, a more prepared workforce, and more stable communities across North Carolina.1
For more than 30 years, the Smart Start Network, led by the North Carolina Partnership for Children, has supported the state’s early childhood system. Through a statewide network of 75 Local Partnerships serving all 100 counties, Smart Start works to strengthen early care and education, support families, and improve child health and development beginning at birth. Its mission is to advance a high-quality, comprehensive early childhood system that ensures every child in North Carolina enters school prepared to learn.
Smart Start promotes early literacy through a range of evidence-based and evidence-informed strategies. Local Partnerships connect families with resources such as early literacy programs, playgroups, developmental screenings, and caregiver education that support language development and early learning. These efforts help ensure children have access to enriching experiences and supportive relationships during the critical early years.
Many of these literacy-focused strategies are documented in Smart Solutions, a statewide resource that highlights proven approaches used by Local Partnerships to improve outcomes for children and families.
Whether at home, in neighborhoods, or through public policy, every action that supports early literacy helps build a stronger foundation for children and a brighter future for North Carolina. Investments in early literacy ensure children enter school ready to learn, reduce the need for later intervention, and improve long-term educational and health outcomes—ultimately supporting a stronger workforce and more stable communities statewide.
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Written by Guest Author
Christina Peterson, MEd
Family Support Manager, North Carolina Partnership for Children
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