Interested in Becoming a NC Pre-K Site?

There will be a community interest meeting held on November 5, 2025 at 4:00pm at the Cabarrus Partnership for Children Office (1307 S. Cannon Blvd, Kannapolis).

If you are interested in attending the meeting or need more information, please email: patricia@cabarruspartnership.org to register.

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Submit Your Nominations!

The Anne Laukaitis Champion for Children Award is in honor of Anne's distinguished Smart Start leadership and her long career dedicated to the service of young children and families in Cabarrus County. This award is given annually to an exceptional individual at the local level who is devoted to public service and whose leadership qualities have resulted in significant change for the betterment of young children, families, and communities.

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Paula Yost Appointed to North Carolina Partnership for Children Board by State Legislature

Cabarrus County Partnership for Children is proud to announce, Paula Yost, an attorney and licensed clinical mental health counselor, has been appointed by the North Carolina General Assembly to serve on the Board of Directors of the North Carolina Partnership for Children (NCPC). Senator Phil Berger named Paula as his legislative appointee to represent young parent’s interest statewide.

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Apply Now for Pre-K!

Children who will be 4 years old on or before August 31, 2025 may qualify to attend a free, high-quality Cabarrus County Pre-K program!

Submit one universal application to see if your child qualifies to attend one of the free Cabarrus County Preschool programs in 2025-2026.

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OUR FUNDING PARTNERS

Concord Children's Clinic

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Smart Start

Smart Start was created in 1993 as an innovative solution to a problem: Children were coming to school unprepared to learn.

Policymakers recognized that progress would require tapping into the same innovative spirit that inspired private sector advances, and therefore, established Smart Start as a public/private partnership. Independent, private organizations work in all 100 North Carolina counties through The North Carolina Partnership for Children, Inc., and 76 Local Partnerships.

The power of Smart Start is that it delivers outcomes by giving communities local control to determine the best approach to achieving them.

our smart start programs

The following Smart Start programs are implemented locally by the Cabarrus County Partnership for Children:

Funding of all partner programs

The Cabarrus County Partnership for Children provides Smart Start funding for the following partner programs:

Emergency Dental Services (Cabarrus Health Alliance)
Early Education Liaison Program (Rowan-Cabarrus Community College)
Inclusive Child Care (P.U.R.E. Excellence)
WAGE$® Program (Child Care Services Association (CCSA))

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Cabarrus

1307 S Cannon Blvd
Kannapolis, NC 28083
P: 704.933.8278
F: 704.934.0029

Partnership

PO Box 87
Kannapolis, NC 28082

For Children

Financial information about this organization and a copy of its license are available from the State Solicitation Licensing Branch at 888-830-4989. This license is not an endorsement by the State. Contributions to Cabarrus Partnership for Children are tax deductible in conformance with IRS Standards.