NC Judge Rules for First Time that Early Education Vital to Right to Sound Basic Education

Posted on 07/19/2011 @ 11:20 AM

“Today is truly extraordinary. For the first time ever, a court in the United States has said that a child’s ability to access his or her right to obtain a sound basic education begins at birth. Once again, North Carolina makes early learning history,” said Dr. Olson Huff, chair of the board of The North Carolina Partnership for Children, Inc., the organization that oversees Smart Start.

North Carolina Superior Court Judge Howard Manning, Jr., in what appears to be the first time a court in the U.S., has acknowledged the pivotal role early education plays in allowing at-risk children to avail themselves of their right to a sound basic education.

According to today's article on the court ruling, Smart Start is North Carolina’s public/private partnership that improves children’s early care and learning programs; provides parents with tools that support them in raising healthy, happy, successful children; and ensures that children have access to preventive health care.

This is a truly significant ruling for all early education advocates and signals a brighter future for North Carolina's at-risk children.

Do you think Florida will follow suit?

To read the full article, click here.