'What’s going to happen if there isn’t consistent child care?'
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As the short session moves along, child care providers and advocates have their eyes on June 30, the date that officially marks the end of stabilization grants for child care providers across the state.
Hundreds of educators, parents, and community members showed up on May 16 to raise awareness of exactly what that date will mean if legislators do not step in with funding to continue those grants.
Child care owners shut their doors and parents took off work to demonstrate the potential closures and workforce disruptions to come. Attendees rallied outside the state legislative building and met with legislators inside.
“It’s only one day,” said Megan Ryan, a parent of a toddler in Durham. “What’s going to happen if there isn’t consistent child care? What will that mean for my ability to keep my job?”
Advocacy is taking all shapes and forms this session. Outside of the statewide rally calling for $300 million, providers organized local “days without child care” earlier in the month in Durham and Charlotte. Smaller groups of advocates have planned meetings with targeted representatives. Local efforts like the one led by the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce have raised awareness and funding.
The staff of Care-O-World Early Learning Centers, a regional child care program in eastern North Carolina, wrote an EdNC perspective on the need for sustained investment in child care.
“Child care is infrastructure — just as essential as bridges, schools, airports, and landfills,” they wrote. “Our jobs are just as important as college professors, doctors, and nurses; they work, because we work. We are tired of being poor.
Stabilize North Carolina child care. Not just for a year — forever.”
Katie and I have had a very busy season. We have attended conferences, spoken at events, spent days in classrooms, traveled to Washington, D.C., and recorded an episode of “Due South” on WUNC. I spent last Saturday night emceeing the 50th anniversary celebration for the Child Care Services Association. We are honored to be in these roles, sharing your stories, elevating your needs and solutions, and showcasing your passion.
Many of you are already making hard choices about your programs, your jobs, and your futures. You are on our minds. Don’t hesitate to reach out if you are interested in sharing your story or have a question. Thank you for all you do.
More from EdNC on early childhood
Child care providers rally at the legislature for stabilization funding
Federal child care relief funding runs out in less than seven weeks. Hundreds of providers, parents, and advocates showed up...Perspective | We are child care professionals. We are infrastructure. We need long-term stabilization
Together and united, we are here. We are the child care professionals of Care-O-World Early Learning Centers. We teach, we...Stable child care in Watauga County would add 300 employees to the local economy, study finds
Insufficient child care is keeping 300 individuals out of the labor pool in Watauga County, a new study estimates. “If...The big picture for little kids
Legislative Updates
Check out this previous edition of Early Bird for information on early childhood this short legislative session.
Learn more from our early childhood legislative preview, our coverage of this month’s rally, our unpacking of Gov. Cooper’s budget proposal, and our breakdown of other education bills to follow.
Next, the House and Senate will each release a budget plan, and then work together to reach a compromise.
News & Research
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Alabama sends first-of-its-kind child care tax credit bill to Gov. Kay Ivey’s desk - From The Alabama Ed Lab
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Many ‘informal’ child care providers are entitled to pay. Most don’t know it - From The Hechinger Report
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Rent control for child care? - From Vox
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Private Equity Is Coming for Child Care. What Does That Mean? A Q+A with Elliot Haspel on How Private Equity and Shareholders Are Reshaping American Child Care - From Early Learning Nation
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Microchip companies need federal grant money. They’re rolling out child care to get it. - From The 19th News
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Perspective: A look at what could be the future for postpartum care in America - From NPR
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Aspects of Well-being for the Child Care and Early Education Workforce - From The U.S. Administration for Children & Families
Taking flight! Opportunities to spread your wings
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Emotional well-being resources for young children, caregivers - From Sesame Workshop
Find resources, activities, and videos to help children and their caregivers form the bonds and social connections that nurture their well-being.
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A Salary Scale Toolkit for Supporting the use of Salary Scales in Early Childhood Programs - From NC Institute for Child Development Professionals
This toolkit provides background and implementation information on salary scales for early childhood educators. It also includes a free interactive tool for any provider to plug in their expenses and create a salary scale that works for them.
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Building Bright Futures with Early Childhood Apprenticeships - From The North Carolina Business Committee for Education
From the program’s website:
“Building Bright Futures is a pilot initiative designed to support and scale pre-apprenticeships and apprenticeships in early childhood education throughout North Carolina. BBF offers technical assistance, financial support, and resources to pre-apprentices and apprentices, child care centers, school districts, community colleges, and other partners that are part of a registered apprenticeship program through ApprenticeshipNC.”
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Impact Summit 2024: Honoring and Supporting the Whole Child - From PBS North Carolina
Saturday, June 1 | 9 am – 4:45 pm at East Carolina University
From the organizer:
“The Impact Early Childhood Education Summit is a gathering of Early Childhood Education Professionals, parents and caregivers aimed at celebrating and supporting those who are helping children, birth through third grade, to grow strong roots for a healthy foundation. Enjoy presentations and breakout sessions, network with colleagues and earn contact hour credits on art integration, educational media, STEM curriculum, equity in education, parenting and more.”
