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Early Bird by EdNC

What we can learn from red states’ child care policies

New session, new opportunities

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. 

Graphic by Lanie Sorrow

Is it just me, or did January feel three times longer than normal to y’all too? Thrilled to finally be here in February, the month when Liz and I both celebrate our birthdays as Pisces! 

Part of what made January feel especially long was how excited we were to put the finishing touches on our latest big project and get it out to all of you — which is why you got a special edition of Early Bird last week. 

Our “red state” project started in May 2024 when some folks who read our last major project — the “learning adventures” we took to five states leading the way on early childhood policy and investment — asked if we knew what red states were doing on the early care and learning front. We knew a little, but we set out to learn a lot more.

Liz Bell and Katie Dukes at the Hunt Institute’s 2024 Early Childhood Leadership Summit in Las Vegas. Katie Dukes/EdNC.

We were grateful for the opportunity to attend the Hunt Institute’s 2024 Early Childhood Leadership Summit in Las Vegas last September, where we sought out folks from Ohio, Kentucky, Alabama, Louisiana, and Florida who could help tell us more about recent child care wins in their states. We spent the next few months following up with them and have been excited to share what we learned with folks back home in North Carolina — just in time for the General Assembly’s long session.

Speaking of the long session, I also threw together a quick little “Who’s Who” in early care and learning that we thought might be helpful to folks right now. There’s been a lot of turnover in leadership since the 2023 long session, so we hope this can help people get reoriented and grounded for 2025. 

That’s it from us for now! Stay tuned as the legislative session kicks into high gear. We’ll be right here with y’all…

More from EdNC on early childhood

What we can learn from red states' approaches to child care challenges

Policymakers across the political spectrum ran for office on child care issues in 2024. From the presidential campaigns to local...

Perspective | North Carolina's child care 'trilemma'

There is likely not a parent or employer in North Carolina who has not been directly impacted by the “child...

Who’s who in North Carolina’s early care and learning landscape?

There’s been significant turnover in leadership across North Carolina’s early care and learning landscape since the last long session of...

Chirp! Chirp! Opportunities to share your voice

Which of the seven red state policies outlined in our article do you think feels like a good fit for North Carolina? Reply to this email to let us know!

The big picture for little kids

Taking flight! Opportunities to spread your wings

  • Webinar: Supporting the mental and emotional health of Black students in schools - From Brookings

    February 7, 2025 @1:00 pm

    From the organizers: On February 7, join the Race, Prosperity, and Inclusion Initiative at Brookings for a webinar on the mental and emotional health trends among Black students and other students of color, highlighting practices and identifying opportunities for further action. Panelists will share perspectives from their work, offering insights on how to create environments where all students can flourish.  

  • Early Bird Rates for 2025 National Early Childhood Education Workforce Convening - From TEACH Early Childhood National Center

    From the organizer: Hosted by the TEACH Early Childhood® National Center, a division of Early Years (formerly known as Child Care Services Association), this annual national event brings together professionals from across the country who are working on advocacy, policy, funding, strategy development and systems building toward implementation and sustainability of programs, as well as strategies and funding that support early education systems nationally and in states and communities across the country.

    Discounted “Early Bird” registration rates available through February 7, 2025.

  • Job Opportunity: Early Learning Sensory Support Program - From NC Department of Public Instruction

    The Early Learning Sensory Support Program (ELSSP) has an opening for a Teacher of the Deaf & Hard of Hearing. This position is remote, requiring 80% travel to serve Lincoln, Gaston, Cleveland, and Mecklenburg counties, and will be accepting applications until the end of the business day, on February 10, 2025.  

  • Job Opportunity: Employer Relations Specialist - From NC Early Childhood Foundation

    From NCECF: The Employer Relations Specialist is a new mid-level position to support existing work and help develop growth strategies to engage more employers about the value of offering family friendly benefits. These workplace policies improve recruitment, retention and productivity, and contribute to the health and well-being of employees and their families.  Our expansion priority is to support small businesses, with an emphasis on reaching those that are minority and women owned. This is a 30-hour per week position with opportunity for advancement as the initiative grows. Application deadline is February 21, 2025.

Katie Dukes

Katie Dukes is the director of early childhood policy at EdNC.