Governor’s visit to Guilford Tech highlights early childhood workforce programs

Gov. Josh Stein visited Guilford Technical Community College on Tuesday alongside educators, students, and leaders from Forsyth Technical Community College to highlight child care workforce training programs in the Triad, according to a press release.

“Child care continues to be a source of anxiety for too many families across North Carolina, from finding a spot for your child to figuring out how to pay for it in your monthly budget,” said Stein. “Through programs like Building Bright Futures and Child Care Academies, we’re investing in our children’s future, lowering costs for families, and strengthening our workforce.”

Former Gov. Roy Cooper launched Building Bright Futures (BBF) in 2023 as a pilot program to expand the apprenticeship model in early childhood education. Now operating with reduced funding, the program continues to support apprentices with wage support, mentorship, and other resources.

“Governor Stein has long supported apprenticeship models that create more pathways to high-demand careers,” the press release said. “He recently announced his support for NC Career Launch, using discretionary funds to expand … high-quality youth apprenticeship programs in high-demand sectors like child care.”

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Child care academies are short-term training and certification programs that prepare participants for child care teaching roles, many of which are free to participants. The Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) allocated federal funding last December to launch several academies through higher education institutions across the state.

Both programs were identified as “promising models” by the governor’s Task Force on Child Care and Early Education to recruit and retain early childhood educators in its 2025 year-end report.

During Tuesday’s visit, Guilford Tech President Anthony Clarke thanked the N.C. Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) for awarding his college a grant to offer child care academies.

“We’re already seeing results with graduates from our first cohort employed at early child care centers,” Clarke said. “As a community partner to the Triad, our responsibility is to prepare a skilled workforce for high-demand industries. With the need for qualified early child care providers remaining strong across Guilford County, GTCC is committed to continuing these child care academies beyond the grant period.”

Forsyth Tech President Janet Spriggs also highlighted the importance of child care for families’ financial security and children’s educational outcomes.

“Forsyth Tech’s Child Care Academy helps prepare early childhood professionals, and meets a clear need across our region,” Spriggs said. “We are proud to be part of an effort that builds a stronger future for our children, our families, and our economy, and are grateful for Governor Stein’s support of this crucial work.”

The visit came a week before the General Assembly convenes for its short session, during which legislators will once again attempt to pass a comprehensive budget after negotiations stalled the process in 2025.

According to the press release, since the state passed its last budget, North Carolina has lost 262 child care programs due to inadequate child care subsidy reimbursement.

“On average, our current subsidy rates pay for only about a half of what is costs child care providers to provide care,” the press release said.

Stein’s budget proposal includes $20 million recurring to “bring the child care subsidy rate to the 75th percentile of the 2023 market rate study for the last quarter of FY 2025-26.” Early childhood advocates have long called for increased subsidy funding, which helps low-income working families afford care.

“The annualized need to increase the subsidy rate to the proposed level is $80 million,” the proposal says.

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Last month, Stein and NCDHHS also announced the state had secured over $75 million in federal funds to rebuild child care infrastructure in areas affected by Hurricane Helene and Tropical Storm Debby, the release said.