Starting 2025 with local leadership
Early Bird readers, hello again. Newcomers, welcome! If you were forwarded this email, you can sign up here to receive it every two weeks, and join our conversation on issues facing North Carolina’s young children and those who support them. If you’re already a subscriber, please help us reach more people by sharing this with your friends and co-workers interested in early childhood education.
Happy New Year from EdNC’s early childhood team! Katie and I are excited to continue telling stories of our state’s future: our youngest learners and those who support them.
We’ve got two local stories for you of business and education leaders putting a priority on early care and education as we look ahead to what 2025 has in store.
In Pasquotank County, the local school district is transforming an elementary school into Pasquotank Early Childhood Center, which will house a dozen pre-K classrooms and the district’s Family Resource Center.
Katie attended Pasquotank Elementary School, formerly Pasquotank County Negro Consolidated Elementary School, and is following the story throughout this year as the building prepares to welcome pre-K students.
District leaders said the effort is not only about consolidating pre-K, but about expanding early learning access for children from birth.
Read here about the school’s history and how its new purpose will continue its legacy of providing opportunities to students and families.
I spent last week in Western North Carolina as local and state business leaders, advocates, and elected officials toured early childhood programs across Watauga County. The Boone Area Chamber of Commerce is pushing for early childhood investment, at both the local and state levels and in both the private and public spheres.
Affordable, accessible, high-quality early learning is essential for learning and for workforce participation. Hurricane Helene’s devastation has underscored how far the community, and the state, is from that access, said David Jackson, president and CEO of the chamber.
Sen. Ralph Hise, a Republican who represents Watauga and eight other counties in the region, attended the advocacy day last week. Hise chairs the state Senate’s appropriations committee. The legislature gaveled in this month but will get started on its long session, when lawmakers craft a new two-year state budget, in the coming weeks. Read more on that below.
Hise said early childhood programs do not have incentives to offer the care that communities need most. Providers are unable to charge parents what it costs to provide quality care, and public funding falls short.
“It’s a hard puzzle to put together for any kind of center,” he said. “It is not, ‘Look at the needs of the community, and how can I meet them?’”
Despite the market challenges, we met educators and business owners across the county making great sacrifices to do just that: meet their community’s needs.
We invite you to follow along as we track these and other local and statewide efforts to strengthen and expand early learning opportunities. Thank you for reading.
More from EdNC on early childhood
‘Hard times on top of hard times’: Lessons learned from families and child care providers following Helene
Editor’s Note: This story was produced by the WNC Helene Hub, a project of the NC Local News Workshop made possible with...A new early childhood legacy for an old elementary school
The sign on Peartree Road in Elizabeth City once read “Pasquotank County Negro Consolidated Elementary School.” In more recent decades,...Child care is the priority of Watauga County business leaders for Helene recovery and beyond
The Saturday in September after Hurricane Helene hit Watauga County, David Jackson found himself walking the aisles of the local...Perspective | Gov. Josh Stein on education in his inaugural address
Editor’s Note: Gov. Josh Stein presented these excerpted remarks on Saturday, Jan. 11, 2025. You can see the full address...Perspective | Goosebumps are possible as we imagine how to get child care right. Here's how
Close your eyes, and imagine an America where we have gotten childcare right. The Reimagine Childcare Project has spent the...The big picture for little kids
Legislative Updates
The General Assembly convened Jan. 8 to ceremonially launch its long session. Lawmakers will pass legislation this year that shapes early learning, including a new two-year budget. The session normally extends into late summer or early fall.
“Education, infrastructure needs, child care, health care, and dozens of other issues will present themselves to us over the next two years,” said Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Berger, R-Rockingham, in his opening remarks.
Lt. Gov. Rachel Hunt referenced the legacy of her father, four-term Gov. Jim Hunt, in her speech that day. Jim Hunt is known for his focus on education, including in the early childhood years with the launch of the Smart Start network.
“As my dad did, I believe in the great promise of North Carolina,” Hunt said. “From my years attending our strong public schools and universities, I believe in the chance for every student to succeed and get a high-quality education no matter where they live. From growing up on the farm in Rock Ridge, I believe in the importance of good-paying jobs for hardworking families and supporting our rural communities. And from my work fighting for women and children in the courtroom and this very state legislature, I believe in strengthening child care and defending women’s health care.”
A couple of days later, Gov. Josh Stein delivered his inaugural address, during which he highlighted the importance of pre-K.
“There is no better investment in our future than providing excellent pre-K so that every child starts kindergarten healthy and ready to learn,” Stein said.
Finally, go here to get to know the new House Speaker, Rep. Destin Hall, a Republican representing Caldwell and Watauga counties. Hall says he is committed to expanding school choice and strengthening the education system.
EdNC will be covering the legislative session throughout the year. This month, look out for legislative previews on predictions and priorities as lawmakers get to work.
News & Research
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CMS, county try to boost pre-K program enrollment - From WFAE
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Quitting jobs to qualify for child care - From The Hechinger Report
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2024 Research Roundup: 3 Must-Read Studies About Early Care and Education - From The 74 Million
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How to Decide on Child Care - From Parent Data
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What Parents Say About How Childcare Problems Affect Employment and Hours Worked - From Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago
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States help child care centers expand in bid to create more slots, lower prices - From Stateline
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Intergenerational Care Benefits Children and Seniors. Why Is It Still So Rare? - From EdSurge
Taking flight! Opportunities to spread your wings
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QRIS Q&A - From Care and Learning (CandL)
A consortium of early childhood organizations known as CandL is partnering with the NC Child Care Commission to help providers and others understand how and why the QRIS (quality rating and improvement system) is changing.
They will host three Q&A sessions on Jan. 30. Links to register for each are below:
- 11 a.m. – Noon: Click here to register
- 3 p.m. – 4 p.m.: Click here to register
- 7 p.m. – 8 p.m.: Click here to register
If you are unable to attend, CandL will send a recording and comprehensive Q&A guide out to anyone who registers for a session.
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Early childhood organizational partnership development - From BlueCross BlueShield of North Carolina Foundation
The private philanthropy BlueCross BlueShield Foundation (full disclosure, the foundation supports the work of EdNC) is seeking an organization to help early childhood advocacy organizations collaborate.
Applications are due Feb. 3. From the foundation:
“The contractor will assist the Foundation in grantee selection and then work alongside the resulting six grantee organizations through tailored supports that can include facilitation, technical assistance, and skill building that enhances grantee capacity for collaboration.”
