RALEIGH, N.C. — Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Aldona Wos announced Tuesday that Dianna Lightfoot has been appointed the state's new director of Child Development and Early Education.
The Division of Child Development and Early Education, or DCDEE, oversees the state's child-care program as well as NC Pre-K, which was moved into Health and Human Services from the Department of Public Instruction last session.

The National Physicians Center for Family Resources, which Lightfoot founded in 2001, advocates against "institutional" preschool programs.
"In the case of early childhood education programs, available research suggests they may actually be inferior to early learning opportunities at home. In addition, it appears the demand for out of home childcare is not as prevalent as many advocates claim," says an open letter signed by Lightfoot on the group's website.
The letter also warns that "There is great potential for early learning institutions to foster more dependency on the government (i.e. taxpayer) and more of an entitlement mentality."


The North Carolina Democratic Party immediately criticized the move, noting the state was a national pioneer in early childhood education.
"For Gov. McCrory, who stated his support for Pre-K during the campaign, and Secretary Wos to appoint someone who actively advocates against Pre-K, who believes that educating our children will result in 'an entitlement mentality,' demonstrates a total lack of respect for the educational process and a willingness to sacrifice North Carolina’s future a political goal,” Democratic spokesman Clay Pittman said in a statement.