Parents back plan for free Pre-K, wish it could happen sooner

Wake County’s Smart Start Pre-K currently teaches 1,532 income eligible children. Expanding that program to all 3- and 4-year-olds means 26,000 kids in the county would be eligible. More resources would be needed to get all kids free Pre-K.

Brooke Pristell knows the burden of paying for preschool for her daughter, Hannah.

“[It’s a] huge burden. Childcare can be expensive. It can be as much as a mortgage payment,” she said.

She shared that lesson with U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona who visited Bright Beginnings Child Development Center in Cary Thursday. He joined Gov. Roy Cooper, teachers and business owners to make the Biden Administration’s pitch for free Pre-K for all.

“We know there’s benefits for all children to attend, and we want to make sure we’re providing opportunities for all students to attend good 3- and 4-year-old programs while giving families choice,” Cardona said.

The White House estimates the $200 billion plan would save the average family $13,000 and provide Pre-K to 5 million children.

Right now, only about half of eligible kids are in North Carolina's state-run early education program.

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services tells WRAL News it would take 3 to 5 years to provide universal Pre-K statewide.

Mom Mikayla Laureano knows her daughter, Gianna, is lucky to have a spot in North Carolina Pre-K. She worries too many kids will get left behind.

“I see that being too much time to get these children the learning, education that they need,” she said.