RALEIGH – Gov. Bev Perdue today issued the following statement on the order issued today by Judge Howard Manning regarding North Carolina’s pre-kindergarten program.
“Judge Howard Manning, in his July 18, 2011, order, held that ‘[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) and shall provide the quality services of the NCPK to any eligible at-risk four year old that applies.’ Today Judge Manning reaffirmed that the State of North Carolina has a constitutional obligation to educate eligible at-risk four year olds that apply for the NC Pre-K program. And he denied a motion filed by the Republican leadership of the General Assembly that sought to undo his July 18 order. At my direction, the Department of Health and Human Services is currently preparing a plan to comply with Judge Manning’s July 18 order. Full implementation of the order cannot be immediate, given the current limitations of space, staff and resources; however, the development of an implementation plan is the critical first step. It is the intention of my administration to make sure that the order is implemented as expeditiously as possible. Providing at-risk children with access to an academic pre-kindergarten program helps prepare them for success in elementary school and throughout their lives.”
