In late June, Governor Josh Stein announced the release of the interim report from the North Carolina Task Force on Child Care and Early Education, co-chaired by Lieutenant Governor Rachel Hunt and Senator Jim Burgin. Governor Stein convened the Task Force in 2025 to bring together public and private leaders to develop actionable solutions that make child care more accessible, affordable, and sustainable across North Carolina. This report outlines six initial strategies aimed at strengthening North Carolina’s child care system, an essential foundation for our children, working families, and economy.
As a member of the Task Force, I had the opportunity to work alongside Lieutenant Governor Rachel Hunt, Senator Jim Burgin, and a diverse group of stakeholders committed to real, lasting solutions for our state’s child care crisis. I am proud of the collaboration and momentum reflected in this interim report, and I am even more excited about what lies ahead.
At the North Carolina Early Childhood Foundation (NCECF), we know that accessible, affordable, and high-quality child care is the bedrock of a thriving North Carolina. We applaud the Task Force’s efforts to bring forward thoughtful, actionable proposals that reflect the urgent needs of families, educators, and businesses alike.
Why This Report Matters Now
The challenges facing our child care system are not abstract; it’s the daily realities for working parents, early educators, and local employers. Families are being forced to make impossible choices. Child care programs are struggling to remain open. And our state’s economy is losing billions in potential due to workforce disruptions caused by child care shortages.
This interim report brings together bold solutions with broad impact. From setting a statewide subsidy reimbursement floor to exploring a child care endowment, these recommendations reflect what we at NCECF have long championed: investing in early childhood is investing in North Carolina’s future.
The Foundation’s Work in Action
NCECF is proud to see our efforts echoed and advanced in the Task Force’s report. Each recommendation connects to the pillars of our work:
- Support for Early Childhood Educators: Our Pathways to Grade-Level Reading initiative recognizes that early learning environments begin with the adults in the room. Exploring non-salary benefits and subsidized child care for child care educators affirms what we already know—retaining quality educators is critical for children’s learning and development.
- Cross-Sector Partnerships: The proposed partnerships with the UNC system, community colleges, and K-12 schools build on the same cross-sector collaboration we’ve fostered through Family Forward NC® and the Campaign for Grade-Level Reading. When public systems come together to solve shared challenges, families win.
- Innovative Financing for the Long-Term: A child care endowment is a powerful idea. It reflects the kind of forward-thinking, public-private solution NCECF has promoted through our coalition work with CandL (Care & Learning) and Early Well. Long-term funding mechanisms like this can make sure child care is not just a policy priority today, but a permanent fixture of our state’s success.
You are welcome to read the full report here.
What’s Next and How You Can Help
This is only the beginning. The Task Force will release its final report by the end of 2025, and in the meantime, work groups will dig deeper into the most pressing child care challenges. At NCECF, we will continue to provide the research, data, and community-informed insight needed to guide policy and practice. We’ll also continue to elevate the voices of families and child care providers, those who know the system best and live its impact every day.
We urge policymakers, business leaders, and community partners to join us in supporting the implementation of these recommendations. We need a bold investment. We need coordinated action. And we need everyone at the table.
Because when we get child care right, everything else falls into place – family stability, school readiness, workforce participation, and economic growth.
Let’s keep building a North Carolina where every child, every family, and every community can thrive.
With determination,
Theresa Stacker
Executive Director
North Carolina Early Childhood Foundation