Survey highlights support for extending child care subsidy eligibility to early childhood educators 

As legislators consider extending child care subsidy eligibility to child care teachers, a new survey shows broad support for the policy among early childhood educators.

More than four in five programs surveyed said that expanding subsidy eligibility to child care teachers would help them hire and retain needed staff, a press release said. More than two-thirds said the move would help them stay open.

The survey was commissioned by the North Carolina Child Care Resource and Referral Council (NC CCR&R) and NC Child, and was conducted by Well World Solutions.

An estimated 7,300 employees and 10,500 children under age 6 could benefit from expanded subsidy eligibility, the press release said.

“Child care for child care workers is a statewide policy solution that we can enact that will ultimately make it easier for families to find the child care they need, all while strengthening our child care businesses and developing one of our most essential workforces,” said Janet Singerman, a co-leader of the NC CCR&R Council.

As EdNC has reported, programs that expand subsidy eligibility to all child care teachers regardless of income began in Kentucky and have expanded to other states.

“We are seeing in Kentucky that this is a policy that works and that benefits children and families,” said Erica Palmer Smith, executive director of NC Child. “By making child care more affordable for child care workers we are helping them stay in the field. That helps child care centers retain their employees. And that stability opens up more child care slots. That means more children accessing the kind of early learning that sets them up for a lifetime of success.” 

Kentucky implemented its employee child care assistance program in 2022. Only staff members employed by a licensed program and working at least 20 hours per week are eligible. Providers in Kentucky say the policy has increased their ability to recruit and retain staff. Enrollment across early care and earning programs has increased due to this additional staff capacity.

“Low wages and a lack of other benefits are some of the most common reasons why child care workers leave the child care sector altogether,” said Lori Jones-Ruff, co-leader of the NC CCR&R Council.

In North Carolina, House Bill 800 would allocate $10 million for a two-year pilot in counties that have lost a high percentage of child care capacity in the last decade, to help early childhood educators afford child care for their own children. As EdNC reporter Liz Bell explained in an overview of child care bills to watch in 2025:

For child care teachers working at licensed facilities for at least 35 hours per week, it would grant automatic eligibility for the child care subsidy program, regardless of income. It would prohibit centers from charging teachers copayments or other fees.

Those receiving the funds would be required to enroll in introductory early childhood courses at a community college and commit to completing certain early childhood certificates within 18 months. Those courses would be free for the teacher and paid for through the TEACH Early Childhood Scholarship program from the nonprofit Early Years, formerly known as the Child Care Services Association.

Neil Harrington, research director for NC Child, said North Carolina child care programs invest about $31 million per year in child care discounts for their employees. According to the press release, an estimated 61% of programs offer discounted child care to employees, with nearly two-thirds covering at least half the cost of tuition.

“Expanding subsidy eligibility gives child care businesses the opportunity to recoup costs and address other compensation and benefits improvements that help them retain their desperately needed workforce,” said Kristi Snuggs, a co-leader of the NC CCR&R Council.

The survey was distributed statewide via email to more than 4,300 regulated child care providers in North Carolina, with a response rate of 29% between March 5 and March 20, 2025, the press release said.