DCDEE is pleased to announce the release of the Request for Applications for Child Care Resources and Referral Services Program.

The goal of this Request for Application is to provide technical assistance to early care and education programs according to NC’s revised technical assistance framework: North Carolina’s Pathway to Continuous Quality Teaching Practices and develop a professional development learning community to increase the management skills for current and aspiring child care directors and serve as a resource hub for families receiving child care.

This RFA will be for a 3-year funding cycle with an optional 2-year renewal term. Up to four (4) awards of up to $2,000,000 per year will be made under this RFA to provide services in each of the regions of North Carolina as outlined in the chart below. Eligibility for renewals are contingent upon contract compliance, project performance, and availability of funding. The initial contract period will be July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2028.

Regions	Counties
Eastern Region	Currituck, Camden, Pasquotank, Perquimans, Chowan, Gates, Martin, Pitt, Beaufort, Dare, Tyrell, Hyde, Washington, Pamlico, Craven, Jones, Onslow, Carteret, Pender, Brunswick, New Hanover, Columbus, Sampson, Harnett, Duplin, Johnston, Wayne, Lenoir, Greene, Wilson, Edgecombe, Nash, Franklin, Warren, Bertie, Hertford, Halifax, and North Hampton
South Central Region	Chatham, Lee, Moore, Hoke, Scotland, Robeson, Bladen, Cumberland, Stanly, Union, Anson, Richmond, Montgomery, and Mecklenburg
North Central Region	Caswell, Person, Granville, Vance, Durham, Orange, Alamance, Randolph, Davidson, Guildford, and Wake
Western Region	Cherokee, Clay, Macon, Jackson, Transylvania, Henderson, Buncombe, Graham, Swain, Haywood, Madison, Yancey, Mitchell, Avery, Watauga, Polk, Rutherford, Cleveland, Gaston, Lincoln, Mc Dowell, Burke, Caldwell, Cabarrus, Catawba, Iredell, Rowan, Davie, Alexander, Ashe, Wilkes, Alleghany, Surry, Yadkin, Forsyth, Stokes and Rockingham

Eligibility requirements are included in the RFA. Applications are due via email to [email protected] by 5:00 pm on January 7, 2025 and must include the following attachments:

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Aug

2024

North Carolina releases new ECE workforce study

Read the 2023 Workforce Study
Read the Executive Summary for the 2023 Workforce Study

The pandemic exacerbated what has been a long-in-the-making national child care crisis. At

the heart of the problem is a flawed and unsustainable funding model where it is impossible

to recoup the true cost of the services provided. As the Working in Early Care and Education

in North Carolina: 2023 Workforce Study shows, this flawed model drives down pay and

makes it difficult to recruit and retain providers.

The Division of Child Development and Early Education in partnership with Child Care Services Association has released the latest statewide study of the early care and education workforce. Top findings from the report include:

The early childhood workforce often earns too little to meet their basic needs.
More teachers are leaving their jobs and many plan to leave the field altogether.
Child care stabilization grants likely reduced the loss of child care centers during this time period. However, there was a significant decrease in family home providers.
Many teachers are highly educated, but overall have fewer years of education than in 2019.
Most teachers are female and disproportionately Black/African American.

Number of views (935)

Aug

2024

Request for Applications for “Increasing Access to Child Care for Families Experiencing Homelessness”

DCDEE is pleased to announce the release of the Request for Applications for “Increasing Access to Child Care for Families Experiencing Homelessness"

The purpose of this request for applications is to increase access to child care for families experiencing homelessness by conducting outreach to connect families to high quality educational programs and subsidy services.

Up to $250,000 will be available to support the RFA for two-year funding cycle 2024-2025 and 2025-2026. Approximately $250,000 will be available to support Year 1 funding and $250,000 for Year 2 funding. DCDEE will determine the actual funding amount based on the proposed execution of the project and the utilization of funds as outlined in the successful applicant’s proposal, pending funding availability.

Eligibility requirements are included in the RFA.

Applications are due by 5:00 pm on September 6, 2024.

Q&A deadline has been extended to until 5:00 p.m., on Monday August 26,2024.

Application Face Sheet RFA # 002

Request for Applications: Increasing Access to Child Care for Families Experiencing Homelessness

Line Item Budget Template

Line Item Budget and Narrative Instructions

Number of views (891)

Jul

2024

Quality Rating Improvement System (QRIS) Modernization Update

The Governor signed Senate Bill 425 (now Session Law 2024-34), Health and Human Services Omnibus Bill, which includes the Quality Rating Improvement System (QRIS) Modifications recommended to the Legislature by the NC Child Care Commission to update QRIS and create additional pathways for licensed child care facilities to earn star rated licenses. The Child Care Commission is currently in the process of drafting proposed child care rule language to begin the rulemaking process for implementing the new requirements. The next Child Care Commission Meetings are scheduled for July 16, 2024 (by WebEx only) and September 9, 2024 (in-person at 333 East Six Forks Road, Raleigh, Room 165 and by WebEx). The rulemaking process will include publishing of proposed revised rules as well as a public hearing and public comment period.

Hold Harmless provisions have been extended and star rated license assessments for licensed child care providers will be conducted by provider request only, until the QRIS rulemaking process has been completed. Star rated license assessments are still required for new child care programs.

This legislation also provides a pathway for child care programs currently accredited through the approved accrediting bodies to move to a 3 or 5 star license if they are not already at this star level. Providers will need to submit a request to their licensing consultant and provide a copy of their accreditation award/certificate for processing.

Number of views (789)

May

2024

North Carolina Child Care Commission will hold its Fourth Quarter Meeting on Monday, May 20, 2024

The North Carolina Child Care Commission will hold its Fourth Quarter Meeting on Monday, May 20, 2024, beginning at 10:00 a.m., at the Division of Child Development and Early Education, 333 Six Forks Road, Conference Room 165, Raleigh, N.C. 27609. There will also be an option to join the meeting via WebEx by clicking on the following link:

https://ncgov.webex.com/ncgov/j.php?MTID=m0cc59a5fc0b1cb0f8b6efdc4531c3bca

Webinar number (access code): 2425 537 0117

Webinar password: care (2273 from phones and video systems)

Please note that the meeting link will not become live until 9:45 a.m.

There will be a public comment period from 11:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

If additional meeting time is necessary, the Commission will also meet by WebEx only on May 21, 2024, beginning at 10:00 a.m. The meeting can be joined by clicking on the following link:

https://ncgov.webex.com/ncgov/j.php?MTID=m40183f632f428afebe44072db0a56916

Webinar number (access code): 2434 639 4930

Webinar password: care (2273 from phones and video systems)

Number of views (749)