FACT SHEET: Wake County SmartStart’s More at Four

What is Wake County SmartStart?

Founded in 1996, Wake County SmartStart is a public-private, non-profit organization that partners with non-profits in Wake County to provide comprehensive early childhood services for preschool children ages birth to 5 and their families. Wake County SmartStart’s partners, who receive funding from Wake County SmartStart, provide direct services for children and their families.

What is More at Four?

The More at Four Pre-Kindergarten Program is a high-quality program that serves at-risk children and prepares them for success in school. Children served by More at Four attend a full school day, full school year program that meets high-quality state standards. The program is community based; it is integrated with other early childhood programs in the community and administered at the county or regional level. Children participating in More at Four may be served in classrooms in the public schools, licensed child care centers or Head Start programs. According to independent evaluation findings by the Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, children served by More at Four exhibit substantial growth in key areas including language, literacy, math and social skills. Complete details on More at Four are provided by the North Carolina Office of State Readiness.

What is the relationship between Wake County SmartStart and More at Four?

Wake County SmartStart administers More at Four in Wake County, and works in collaboration with the Wake County Public School System, early childhood professionals and Wake County Human Services. The More at Four program operates in numerous child care facilities across Wake County with smaller class sizes to prepare children for kindergarten.

Is my child eligible to participate in More at Four?

The program is available to children who are 4-years-old by August 31 of the program year, will be entering kindergarten the following year, and are at risk for poor school outcomes. Factors that put children at risk for poor school outcomes include low income, limited English proficiency, identified disability, chronic health condition and developmental or educational need. Children of active duty military families are also eligible. Priority is given to eligible children who have not been served in any other preschool or child care program.

Can my 3-year-old participate in More at Four?

Your child must be 4-years-old by August 31 of the year in which you want to enroll your child in the program. If your child is younger than 4 your child may be eligible to participate in Head Start, a federally-funded preschool program for children birth through 3.

How are classrooms chosen to be a More at Four site?

A child care center must apply to be considered as a More at Four site. To be eligible a center must:

• be willing to accept children receiving subsidy for their care;
• use Creative Curriculum in the More at Four classroom;
• employ staff who meet More at Four minimum educational requirements. Lead teachers must have at least an associate’s degree in early childhood education and teaching assistants must have at least a North Carolina Credential. The lead teacher must be willing to complete at least six hours per year towards a B-K North Carolina teacher’s certification. Teaching assistants must be willing to complete at least six hours per year towards an associate’s degree in Early Childhood;
• limit classes to a maximum of 18 children, with a teacher to students ratio of 1 to 9; and
• meet all of the program guidelines mandated by the More at Four Pre-K Program.

Is there an application process for classroom sites?

In June, Wake County SmartStart posts the More at Four provider application on its Web site.

How can I get more information about Wake County More at Four?

Contact Taushau Wilkinson, (919) 851-9550 or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address), if you have additional questions or would like to apply to the program.