Building a Better Economy, Together: The Role of Public Structures and Systems in Ensuring a Future of Shared Prosperity in North Carolina Edwin McLenaghan, Public Policy Analyst, NC Budget and Tax Center North Carolina Justice Center P.O. Box * Raleigh, NC Ph: (919) , NC Justice Center

Overview of Presentation 1.Meeting the Needs of North Carolina’s Changing Economy 2.How Do We Get There? 3.Challenges to A Completion Agenda 4.Public Structures and Systems Squeezed by Declining Resources & Growing Demand

Meeting the Needs of North Carolina’s Changing Economy

College Completion Rates Inadequate to Meet Future Needs Over half (58%) of North Carolina students seeking a bachelors degree graduate within six years Only one-fifth (21%) of two-year students complete a degree within three years

How do we get there? Early Childhood Programs K-12 Education Post- Secondary Education & Training Productive Workers & Entrepreneurs

Strengthen Entire Birth-to-Career Pipeline “Large bodies of research have shown how poor health and nutrition inhibit child development and learning and, conversely, how high- quality early childhood and preschool education programs can enhance them.” -Dr. Helen Ladd & Edward Fiske, NY Times Op-Ed “The notion of synergies lies behind such initiatives as the Harlem Children’s Zone, which seeks to intervene in children’s lives from birth through college. The promise of such comprehensive programs is that they can achieve higher returns than each separate program can do alone.” - Dr. Timothy Bartik, author of Investing in Kids How do we get there?

What Works? Holistic Birth-to-Five Interventions Smart Start & NC Pre-K Nurse-Family Partnerships K-12 Small class sizes for at-risk students Access to adequate nutrition and health services Extended learning time with high-quality teachers and mentors Post-Secondary Early College High Schools Career Pathways Preserve affordability and enhance student support services How do we get there?

Challenges to a Completion Agenda Rapid Growth in Tuition & Fees Inadequate Financial Aid Higher Costs Long Work Hours Part-Time Enrollment Less Time Devoted to Studies Fewer Employment Opportunities Reduced Overall Competitiveness Lower Completion

1 in 4 North Carolina Children lived in Poverty in 2010 Challenges to a Completion Agenda

What is North Carolina achieving?

State investments support public structures, economic opportunity Total FY State Appropriations: $19.7 billion Source: General Assembly Money Report

Fewer Resources to Support Public Structures

Additional Demands on Support Public Structures

Questions or Comments? Contact Information: Edwin McLenaghan, Public Policy Analyst North Carolina Justice Center P.O. Box * Raleigh, NC Ph: (919) ,