The NC Task Force on Child Care and Early Education released its report outlining six recommendations to improve the state of child care in North Carolina.
Following meetings with educators, child care providers, parents, leaders, and legislators, task force members found that North Carolina’s child care system faces significant challenges associated with the recruitment and retention of early childhood education professionals, along with the availability and affordability of child care.
According to a release from Governor Josh Stein’s office, the average cost of infant care in North Carolina is more expensive than the cost of in-state college tuition. In 2023 alone, the ever-increasing cost forced many parents with young children to make the difficult decision to leave the workforce due to a lack of child care, costing the state over $5.65 billion.
“North Carolina families are struggling to find quality child care while centers are closing their doors, making it harder for children to get the education they need and for parents to go to work without worry,” stated Lieutenant Governor Rachel Hunt. “This Task Force has brought together industry leaders and community partners to find real solutions. While our work will continue, I believe this report lays out a path forward to make child care more accessible and affordable.”
Co-chaired by Lieutenant Governor Rachel Hunt and Senator Jim Burgin, the task force has recommended the following to address these issues:
- Set a statewide child care subsidy reimbursement rate floor
- Develop approaches to offer non-salary benefits for child care professionals
- Explore partnerships with the UNC system, community colleges, and K-12 schools to increase access to child care for public employees and students at public institutions
- Explore subsidized or free child care for child care teachers
- Link existing workforce compensation and support programs for early childhood professionals
- Explore the creation of a child care endowment
A brief summary of each recommendation can be found here.
In the coming months, the Task Force will dig deeper into the six recommendations outlined in the latest report and work with groups to find additional challenges impacting the state’s child care and early education system.
By the end of the year, the Task Force will also produce an additional report and set of recommendations that will go to Governor Josh Stein’s desk.
“Investing in child care benefits everyone. When children grow up in a supportive and nurturing environment, it sets them on the trajectory to thrive as adults,” stated Governor Josh Stein. “We must come together to make child care more accessible and affordable so that we can secure a brighter future for North Carolina’s children”.
You can read the Task Force’s full report here.
