RALEIGH -- The latest numbers from the Kids Count policy report show that children that are born into low-income families are already at a disadvantage when entering school. Laura Speer, Associate Director of Policy Reform and Advocacy with the Annie E. Casey Foundation, says the number of families that fit in the "low-income" category across the state may surprise you.

Speer said, "There are about 360,000 families in the state of North Carolina who have young children, that's children under about age 8, and who are low income. That's about 50% of all families with young children in the state."

Speer added that policy decisions, including earned income tax credit, will help these children in low-income families.