Gov Perdue on NC Pre-K

Gov. Bev Perdue sent a letter this week to leaders of the North Carolina General Assembly  requesting that the General Assembly take a first step in implementing a court order regarding NC Pre-K.  The governor requested resources to enable 6,300 additional at-risk students to enroll in NC Pre-K starting in January 2012.  On July 18, 2011, North Carolina Superior Court Judge Howard Manning issued an order that said “[t]he State of North Carolina shall not deny any eligible at-risk four year old admission to the North Carolina Pre-Kindergarten Program (NCPK).”  Judge Manning reaffirmed that ruling last month.  The Dept of Health and Human Services estimates that it will cost approximately $30 million to serve 6,300 additional children starting in January 2012. Gov. Perdue said that she has identified existing funds that the General Assembly could use without raising taxes, without putting the budget out of balance and without damaging critical priorities.