Identical to S 740, filed 4/25/16.

Directs the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Department of Public Instruction (DPI), and any other agencies that administer and support early education programs to use currently available resources to collaborate on developing and implementing a statewide vision for early childhood education. Requires the agencies to, at a minimum, do the following: (1) inventory and evaluate state programs and services in the area of early childhood education; (2) study the transition from NC Pre-K to public kindergarten and make any recommendations to ensure successful transition; (3) develop a comprehensive approach to early childhood education, birth through 3rd grade; and (4) require the agencies to report on any issues and recommendations, with an initial report due to the chairs of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees on Health and Human Services and the Fiscal Research Division by February 1, 2017 and a follow up report due to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Health and Human Services by February 1, 2018.