The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) will partner with 16 higher education institutions to launch free, intensive, short-term training and certification programs to prepare participants for child care careers, according to a Dec. 3 press release from the department.
Traditional programs for lead teacher roles in early childhood education can last several weeks or months. These new training programs, called “child care academies,” will be shorter, while still offering curriculum that “meets or exceeds” minimum training standards, the announcement says. The length of programs will vary depending on the college or university in which the participant enrolls.
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The NCDHHS press release says these academies aim to “address the severe staffing shortage that is a key contributor to the state’s child care crisis,” expand access to high-quality early learning, bolster workforce development, and reinforce the state’s economy by helping parents stay employed.
Funding for the initiative will come from NCDHHS’s Division of Child Development and Early Education, the announcement said, using dollars from a federal Preschool Development Grant.
“North Carolina’s early learning system depends on a strong, well-prepared workforce, and the Child Care Academies are designed to meet that need head on,” said NCDHHS Deputy Secretary for Opportunity and Well-Being Michael Leighs. “By providing free high-quality training, we’re opening doors for new educators while supporting families and ensuring children across our state have access to safe and nurturing care.”
These academies have gained popularity in recent months as a way to address early childhood educator shortages. EdNC reported in September that at least 11 counties across the state had institutions running child care academies. According to that report, a 2024 survey found staffing shortages were affecting three out of every five licensed child care providers across the state.
Earlier this year, a $1.476 million pilot to expand child care academies with state funding was included in the budget passed by the North Carolina House. However, the pilot funding did not make it into the General Assembly’s “mini-budget,” which was signed by Gov. Josh Stein in August.
A February report from the NC Chamber Foundation lifted up child care academies as “scalable local solutions,” and the governor’s North Carolina Task Force on Child Care and Early Education highlighted child care academies in its June interim report.
The NCDHHS press release lists 16 new child care academies — including 13 at community colleges, and three at four-year institutions. Of the 13 at community colleges, only two were included in EdNC’s September report, meaning that 11 of the community colleges may be running programs for the first time.
Per NCDHHS, the list of institutions offering child care academies include:
- Appalachian State University
- Bladen Community College
- Central Carolina Community College
- Central Piedmont Community College
- Davidson-Davie Community College
- Durham Technical Community College
- Elizabeth City State University
- Forsyth Technical Community College
- Guilford Technical Community College
- Montgomery Community College
- Nash Community College
- Pitt Community College
- Roanoke-Chowan Community College
- Sandhills Community College
- The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- Wilson Community College
According to the press release, participants in the academies undergo training in different formats — with virtual and in-person opportunities — covering CPR/first aid, health and safety, infant/toddler safe sleep and sudden infant death syndrome, playground safety, and identifying and responding to signs of child maltreatment.
Participants are also introduced to the North Carolina Foundations for Early Learning and Development, trained on the Environment Rating Scales, and briefed on program standards for Pathways to the Stars, the state’s updated Quality Rating and Improvement System. They also receive certification and guidance to complete the required NCDHHS criminal background checks.
“Children in early childhood care and education environments need well-prepared teachers to help keep them safe, healthy and learning,” said Candace Witherspoon, director of the NCDHHS Division of Child Development and Early Education, which licenses and monitors child care programs. “Child Care Academies quickly and fully prepare teachers to provide quality care and education to children and families in their communities.”
Each of these schools will have to offer at least three trainings through July 2026, the release says, though participating schools can set their own start date. Some already began in October, while others will launch in January.
NCDHHS’s press release said those interested in the academies should contact the admissions office of the program at their school of choice.
You can learn more about the academies here.
EdNC’s Katie Dukes contributed to this report.
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