Wayne County residents are seeing the benefits of a new, fast‑track approach to childcare worker training, and the state is moving to spread the model statewide. After completing the two‑week Early Childhood Workforce Ready Academy in February 2024, Dominque McBride walked into Little Bulldogs Academy in Goldsboro with a full set of certifications—including CPR, first aid and playground safety—and secured a job on the spot.
Free, intensive training removes barriers
Normally, earning the same credentials can take months and require out‑of‑pocket costs that many families and workers cannot afford. Shelly Willis, director of program coordination and evaluation with Partnership for Children of Wayne County, explained that the academy compresses the curriculum into a two‑week period, eliminating the need for participants to juggle classes around existing jobs.
Funding for the program comes from the Camber Foundation, which has contributed $145,000 to support academies in Wayne and Johnston counties over the past two years. Valerie Wallace, executive director of the Partnership for Children, said the grants have allowed more than 100 individuals to receive training at no cost.
Legislators back the model with new funding
Recognizing the program’s success, state legislators included $1.5 million in one‑time funding in the budget passed in July. The money will be used to launch additional academies across North Carolina, giving more aspiring childcare professionals a rapid, affordable pathway to certification.
The investment is part of a broader budget package aimed at addressing chronic staffing shortages and long waitlists for childcare. From March 2018 to June 2026, the state lost a net 1,072 childcare sites, and enrollment fell by 28,183 children (an 11.5 % decline), according to the NC Early Care and Learning dashboard.
Economic and family impact
Childcare shortages affect more than just families; they ripple through the entire economy. A 2024 report from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation and NC Child estimated that inadequate childcare costs North Carolina $5.65 billion in lost economic activity each year. By expanding training, the state hopes to increase the supply of qualified teachers, allowing centers to keep doors open and parents to stay in the workforce.
State Sen. Jim Burgin (R‑Harnett), a co‑author of the bipartisan “Childcare at a Crossroads” report, emphasized that the issue cuts across political lines. “It affects children’s development, parents’ ability to work, employers’ access to a stable workforce, and the economic vitality of communities—rural and urban, red and blue,” he said.
Broader national interest
The National Conference of State Legislatures highlighted similar fast‑track academies as a promising strategy for other states. The report, released July 27, noted that North Carolina’s approach could serve as a template for states grappling with comparable workforce gaps.
Other states are experimenting with related initiatives: high‑school training programs in South Dakota, scholarship and stipend programs for childcare degree seekers in Delaware, and apprenticeship models in West Virginia and Rhode Island. North Carolina’s budget also includes stipends for graduates who remain with an employer for at least one year, further encouraging retention.
Local data underscores need
In Wayne County alone, the number of childcare facilities has dropped by nine since 2018, with average monthly enrollment down by more than 1,000 children and employment reduced by 420 workers. These figures illustrate the double‑whammy of rising demand for slots and a shrinking labor pool.
“We’ve set the qualifications so high that by the time we find qualified people, they often move to other jobs, typically in the school system,” Burgin explained at a recent conference in Chicago. The new academies aim to lower those barriers while maintaining high standards.
State subsidy reforms complement training
In July, the General Assembly approved a budget that adds $97 million in federal funding to increase reimbursement rates for subsidized childcare providers and establishes a floor rate, ensuring every facility receives at least the statewide average. The budget also redirects $16.8 million from the federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families block grant to the state’s childcare subsidy program.
While the state does not set wages for childcare workers, higher subsidies give providers flexibility to offer more competitive pay. The 2023 North Carolina Child Care Workforce Study reported a median starting hourly wage of $14 for childcare teachers—comparable to entry‑level retail positions—highlighting the need for better compensation to attract and retain staff.
By pairing rapid, free training with stronger subsidy mechanisms, North Carolina is taking concrete steps to strengthen its childcare system, support families, and boost the state’s economic health.
Original reporting: The Washington Informer — read the source article.
