Survey: Nearly 30% of N.C. child care centers could close
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Pathway Preschool Center in Charlotte. Photo courtesy of Pathway Preschool Center.
Almost 3 in 10 child care centers throughout North Carolina say they'd be forced to close if state lawmakers don't step in with financial support when pandemic-era grants expire this summer.
Why it matters: That many closures (29%) would mean a loss of care for some 91,660 children in the state. This would have ripple effects on the broader economy, experts say.
- That's according to a recent survey from the North Carolina Child Care Resource and Referral Council (CCR&R), which recently polled 1,529 child care programs across the state.
- Most providers surveyed say they'd have to raise tuition to stay afloat without government support.
Between the lines: Pandemic-era stabilization grants addressed two areas: operational costs and pay. The grants covering operational costs ended last April. The ones covering pay are set to expire on June 30.
- These grants increased average teacher salaries by $2-$3 an hour, says Janet Singerman, president and CEO of Child Care Resources Inc.
- Still, child care teacher salaries remain around $14-$15 an hour in North Carolina.
What they're saying: "Working parents will be faced with several draconian choices in terms of child care options. As families can't access child care and/or can't afford child care, they will be forced with making decisions about whether to remain in the workforce," Singerman tells Axios.
The big picture: For years, the child care industry struggled with rising rents, low pay and demand that far exceeded supply. Then came the pandemic, exacerbating these problems as teachers left the field.
- Centers have had to compete for talent with a range of businesses — from call centers to big-box retailers to fast-food chains — which all have raised pay in recent years.
By the numbers: Since February 2020, North Carolina lost 203 licensed child care programs statewide, EdNC recently reported.
- "They may possibly lose a great quality [program], because I am not gonna be able to sustain and I'm trying to think ahead," Shay Jackson, a licensed provider of a family child care home in Forsyth County, told EdNC.
What's next: The North Carolina General Assembly is about to enter into a short session on April 24. Child care professionals are asking for a one-time allocation of $300 million to extend stabilization grants beyond June.
The bottom line: Families cannot afford to pay more, Singerman says, and teachers cannot afford to make less.