The Best Investment You Will Ever Make

The Coordinated Subsidy Program of the Down East Partnership for Children offers two types of opportunities for parents and families that will allow their children access to high quality early childhood education and child care through the DEPC’s Scholarship Program and NC Pre-Kindergarten Program.

Scholarship Program

Our Scholarship Program is funded by Smart Start and was designed to ensure that families could receive financial assistance to access quality early care and education before entering kindergarten. Through this program, children become better prepared, healthy and ready to succeed.
 

To Qualify for Assistance: 

  • Child must be ages, birth to three years old or four years old and not age-eligible for Pre-K
  • Families must live in Nash or Edgecombe County
  • Parents must be working an average of 30 hours per week OR enrolled in school full-time OR working AND in school an average of 30 hours/week
  • Income eligibility is based on 85% of state median income
  • Child care chosen by the parent must be from a pre-approved list of 4 and 5 star licensed child care centers and family child care homes
 
Please note:  Children who are enrolled in pre-kindergarten programs, Head Start, or the Dept. of Social Services Child Care Subsidy Program are not eligible.

To Apply:

You may download a copy of the Early Childhood Education Referral Form (Cuidado y educación temprana para niños formulario de referencia y reclutamiento). Please complete all information on the form and return it along with all required documents by mail to:
 
Down East Partnership for Children
Scholarship Program
P. O. Box 1245
Rocky Mount, NC 27802
 
Or deliver the application and all forms to:
 
Down East Partnership for Children
215 Lexington Street
Rocky Mount, NC 27802
 
For more information contact us at (252) 985-4300 or 1-888-285-0849, Monday thru Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
 

North Carolina Pre-Kindergarten

The North Carolina Pre-Kindergarten Program (NC Pre-K) is a component of the Subsidy Program at Down East Partnership for Children (DEPC). NC Pre-K is a state funded, community based, voluntary pre-kindergarten initiative designed to prepare at-risk four-year-olds in North Carolina for success in school. This program is free to eligible parents.
NC Pre-K Parent FAQs
 

Eligibility:

  • Families must live in Nash or Edgecombe County.
  • Child must be 4 years old on or before August 31st of the program year and must not be age eligible for kindergarten.
  • Family’s gross income must be at or below 75% of the State Median Income level.
  • Child must have or obtain current health assessment and immunizations.
 
​Please note: Families who are over the income level may still qualify if a child has other identified risk factors.
 

NC Pre-K Programs Offer:

  • A 6 1/2 hours a day early childhood education program
  • Parent Involvement
  • Some sites provide transportation
  • Nutritious meals
 
NC Pre-K classes are located in public schools, Head Start and in high quality child care centers (must be a 4 or 5 star licensed center) within Edgecombe and Nash counties.
 
For more information contact Anne Weeks, Subsidy Coordinator, at (252) 985-4300, ext. 219 or email aweeks@depc.org.