North Carolina Receives $4.5 Million Early Childhood Learning Grant

Gov. Roy Cooper announced Tuesday that North Carolina has been awarded a $4.5 million preschool development grant.

The money will go toward a needs assessment and planning process for the state's early learning system, setting goals for children from birth through age 8. It will also support family outreach efforts, and provide pre-K teachers with training and resources.

The funding is included in the current U.S. Department of Health and Human Services budget, so it won't be impacted by the ongoing federal government shutdown. It will be administered by the state Division of Child Development and Early Education.

Cooper will officially launch the plan at an Early Childhood Summit in February.