Local Funding for Early Learning: A Community Toolkit

Local communities are powerful agents of change. Across the nation, towns, cities and counties are serving as hubs of innovation when it comes to early learning. In NC, early childhood investments have typically been funded with federal, state and lottery dollars. Local revenue streams offer another means to expand early learning in communities. This toolkit provides a first step in understanding local opportunities.

Start Learning.

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Local Government 101

How local governments are organized, their responsibilities and areas of authority, how they interact and how the local budget process works.

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Existing Funding Streams

Current federal and state sources of early childhood funding and how funding is maximized through blending and braiding.

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Local Funding Options

Local funding options, including a description of the funding structure, who pays, who collects the funds and how funds are used.

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Case Studies

Profiles of some of the best examples of local early childhood initiatives across the country, including the steps taken and the challenges and opportunities faced.

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Readiness Tools

Lessons from communities engaged in local financing efforts and tools to determine your readiness and begin planning to build support.

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Learn More

Online tools to support initiatives for financing early childhood education.

“Communities are hungry for better ways to meet the needs of their children. There is a dearth of information on how to grow your resources locally. This toolkit provides such an excellent guide to those who care about North Carolina children. I wish every state had one! In the child and youth field we need to get better at understanding the flow of resources, the tax and budget process, and creative financing mechanisms in order to be more effective.”

Elizabeth Gaines, CEO, The Children’s Funding Project

“I don’t often see this level of quality work – so you are to be congratulated for the accomplishment. And as President of the UNC School of Government Foundation, I am really pleased to see you using the great resources of the institution that gave me my start in public service.”

Ed Kitchen, VP and COO of the Joseph M. Bryan Foundation of Greater Greensboro

Property Tax Referendum

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