Wake ThreeSchool Early Learning Program doubles in size, helps parents stay in the workforce

The Wake ThreeSchool Early Learning Program has doubled in size in its second year from 100 to 200 slots.

The program is free to qualified families.

Early childhood education has been shown to give kids a boost. It's also a boost for parents and their careers.

“What it allows a parent to do is remain in the work force,” said Wake County Smart Start executive director Gayle Headen. “It allows them to provide for their families.

“They're at work and it allows them to provide for their family in the way they would like."

The average cost of day care in North Carolina is about $9,480 per year, according to the child care network WeeCare. The cost keeps many parents at home.

“One of us would stay home and hope that we could get remote work or something along those lines,” said parent Nicole Lockamy.

In May, WRAL talked to Nicole Lockamy, her three-year-old girl was in the first year of Wake ThreeSchool.

"Otherwise, we would have just struggled financially until she could go into kindergarten,” Lockamy said.

According to NC Child, early childhood education can help move families out of poverty and set kids up for future success.

{MATT CALABRIA}

"Ten children in our program will enter elementary school more likely to excel and less likely to repeat a grade or be referred for special education,” said Wake County Commissioner Matt Calabria.

Wanda McCargo has worked in childcare for 26 years. Wanda's Little Hands Education Center participates in the Wake ThreeSchool program.

“It is continuing to give them the skills that they need,” McCargo said.

"There are now 200 parents who can be in the workforce because they have access to this program which is of no cost to them,” Headen said.