CHARLOTTE, N.C. — North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper stopped by a Charlotte school on Tuesday as part of the ongoing fight to increase funding for day cares statewide.
Cooper visited the Early Learning Center Preschool on South Tryon Street. His visit to the Queen City comes amid concerns that hundreds of day cares across North Carolina will soon run out of money.
“Child care centers like The Early Learning Center Preschool teach children important building blocks and help prepare them for their future," Cooper said during the visit.
During the pandemic, child care centers received stabilization grants that helped many facilities, retain their staff, buy equipment and keep operations going.
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“Honest to goodness we almost didn’t make it,” Art Porter, with the preschool, said. “When I had to think about that ... like what is it going to be like if we are not able to come here? I get emotional about it.”
That funding comes to an end on June 30. Without a renewed investment, centers fear it will lead to higher tuition, staff cuts and empty classrooms, putting a heavy burden on communities, many of which are already strained.
“While parents have years to save for their kids' college education, young parents have little time to earn and save for childcare," Janet Singerman, President and CEO of Child Care Resources Inc., said. "Our programs here in Charlotte and across the state need well-trained early childhood teachers. Without adequate compensation and the support to sustain their quality, we are in danger of losing three in 10 child care programs and 92,000 child spaces.”
The governor is promoting a $745 million budget to stabilize the industry, adding that it's an investment that benefits working families, businesses and the economy.
David Mason said he sees the benefits of quality care in his daughter.
“She immediately engaged with her teachers, and the other students,” Mason said. “After being here for a year and a half, I’ve seen so much development in her speech, her cognitive development, her education.”
Centers are feeling the heat. In just weeks, critical funding that kept child care facilities afloat during the pandemic is set to run out. Industry leaders estimate it would take roughly $300 million to stabilize North Carolina's looming child care crisis. With government money going away soon, many day care centers say there aren't many options to recoup the money.
"There are only two options left: Go up on tuition, which we are doing July 1, or take our teachers' backend pay, and we can't do that," Emma Briggs, the executive director of Pathway Preschool Center, said.
Pathway isn't alone. According to the North Carolina Child Care & Referal Council, 90% of child care centers statewide will have to increase tuition to make up for the lost funding. Experts say about three in 10 programs will close this summer, potentially leaving tens of thousands of kids without care.
If costs go up, it will put parents who are already paying high prices for child care in an even tougher position.
“Without child care, I would not be able to work,” Stephanie Misko told WCNC Charlotte. “It’s already costing us a mortgage to send our children to day care for the week.”
Contact Jesse Pierre at jpierrepet@wcnc.com or follow her on Facebook, X and Instagram.
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