School Meal Programs across the country will return to normal (pre-pandemic) procedures for the 2022-2023. Learn what to expect and apply for free or reduced-price lunch today!

CMS invites families and community members to donate their time and talents to support CMS students. We know that educating the whole child takes the whole community, and we also know that everyone has something to give. We rely on families and community members to supplement the hard work of our teaching staff.

CMS Pre-K applications are available for Bright Beginnings and NC Pre-K. Bright Beginnings serves eligible 4-year-old students in 57 CMS elementary schools. NC Pre-K serves at-risk 4-year-olds in 30 community-based child care centers. All families must complete the application process to access available seats. Pre-K applications are open until all seats are filled, and they are filled on an ongoing basis. Families can apply through the CMS website, by calling the Pre-K office at 980-343-5950.

Register now for summer camp programs. Scholarship applocaitons are available to help eligible youth participate in programs.

ParentVOICE offers informative, educational and engaging groups for caregivers and separate youth groups for ages 8 - 21.

Charlotte Mecklenburg Library announces the return of Community Read in March 2023 with a focus on creating community dialogue around themes of friendship. Community Read is the Library’s month-long effort to have the community read (or listen) to books of current and relevant topics and participate in discussions, book clubs and events hosted by the Library and community partners.

Communities In Schools of Charlotte-Mecklenburg (CIS-Charlotte) provides students in grades K-12 in selected Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (CMS) with additional support and resources to help them be successful inside and outside the classroom. Students are supported with mentoring, attendance monitoring, tutoring resources and academic enrichment, basic needs, college and career readiness activities, mental health referrals and social-emotional development, cultural enrichment, and more, at no cost to the student/family. However, in order to participate in CIS and receive services, students must attend a CMS school that offers the program, and students/families must also meet certain eligibility criteria. Please visit our website to view the list of schools we serve and complete this Parent Inquiry Form, if your child attends one of the schools that is on the list and you are interested in learning more.

Prevent Child Abuse NC (PCANC) remains steadfast in our mission to ensure that child maltreatment prevention is a priority for North Carolina and all communities have the knowledge, support and resources to prevent child abuse and neglect.

Pat’s Place Child Advocacy Center coordinates the investigation, treatment, and prosecution of the most serious cases of child abuse in Mecklenburg County. We provide a physical environment where a child’s well-being is our first priority and break the cycle of abuse through training, education, and community outreach.

The Children's Alliance is a network of approximately 40 public and private agencies in Mecklenburg County which collectively serve at risk children and families in our community. Beyond sharing information and collaboration, The Children's Alliance engages in a variety of public policy matters.

HealthyChildren.org provides guidance for gun safety at home. Did you know that nearly 2 million children live with unlocked, loaded guns in the home? HealthyChildren.org is the only parenting website backed by 67,000 pediatricians committed to the attainment of optimal physical, mental, and social health and well-being for all infants, children, adolescents, and young adults.

Crittenton (formerly Florence Crittenton Services) is an essential service organization located in Charlotte supporting women, girls, and children across North Carolina who have experienced trauma to provide safety and housing and increased health and life outcomes.

Smart Start of Mecklenburg County is a private, nonprofit partnership that funds local programs for children ages birth to five and their families. Smart Start of Mecklenburg County offers several programs for young children:

• Ready4K
• The Basics Mecklenburg
• Dolly Parton Imagination Library

MECK Pre-K is a FREE, high-quality pre-kindergarten program for eligible four-year-old children in Mecklenburg County. Classrooms are located in four-and five-star childcare centers across the county, and are taught by licensed teachers and teacher assistants. MECK Pre-K was created in 2018 to improve access to quality early childhood care and education for children in Mecklenburg County.

Child Care Resources Inc.(CCRI) works with families and communities to ensure all children have access to high-quality, affordable early learning and school-age opportunities. CCRI offers free, personalized child care referrals via Child Care Search; administers child care financial aid to income-eligible families; helps low-income families afford high-quality child care with health and mental health services and family supports through Early Head Start; and more!

Raising Smart Girls is a Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Education resource for parents of girls aged 3 to 12. Our mission is to demystify STEM for you and your girls and, by doing so, inspire a generation of fearless female leaders and innovators. Try one of our carefully curated STEM activities from our Activity Database or view the 150 resources in our learn at home guide.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (CMS) provides academic instruction and support to more than 140,000 students in 181 schools in Mecklenburg County. Magnet programs are offered in 71 schools to nurture the talents of students who have interest and ability in specific areas. CMS also educates, supports and meets the needs of students with learning and physical disabilities. 

When Charlotte Mecklenburg Library and schools work together, everyone wins. All CMS students are automatically enrolled in the ONE Access program. Your student’s school ID number is their library card! This means any CMS student can use their school ID number to access a wealth of digital resources. We also offer online and in-person tutoring for school-age children, a wide array of programming for every age, and a host of digital resources through our Digital Branch for you to access while at home.

Communities In Schools (CIS) is the nation’s largest organization dedicated to empowering students to stay in school and on a path to a brighter future. Working directly inside schools, CIS connects students to caring adults and community resources to help them succeed inside and outside the classroom and reach their greatest potential.

Read Charlotte is a collaborative, community-wide initiative to double the percentage of third grade students reading at grade level from 39% in 2015 to 80% by 2025. Read Charlotte builds collaborative partnerships and provides resources on proven practices and/or programs. Reading Checkup is a free online tool for Mecklenburg County families to help PreK-3rd grade children stay on track with reading.

The Greater Charlotte Hope Line is a 24/7 hotline for Mecklenburg County residents seeking help for parenting support, domestic violence and sexual assault. This free resource is confidential, safe, and staffed by highly trained advocates who have the knowledge and empathy necessary to help those who call.

MeckHope is a collaborative initiative to bring urgent and preventive mental health and drug/alcohol-related services to Mecklenburg County residents.

The National Responsible Fatherhood Clearinghouse is an Office of Family Assistance (OFA) funded national resource for fathers, practitioners, programs/Federal grantees, states, and the public at-large who are serving or interested in supporting strong fathers and families.