Bill > H800

This bill directs the North Carolina Division of Child Development and Early Education to conduct several comprehensive studies and implement a pilot program aimed at improving child care services in the state. The division will investigate the effectiveness of existing programs like NC Pre-K and Smart Start, review funding allocations, examine early childhood care models, and analyze the quality rating improvement system (QRIS) to identify potential improvements. The bill establishes a pilot program that will automatically qualify full-time child care teachers for child care subsidies for their own preschool-age children, with the condition that teachers either already have or commit to obtaining an early childhood education certificate. The program will be funded with $10 million annually and will focus on counties with the highest loss of child care capacity over the past decade. Additional provisions include allowing families with local supplemental child care funds to choose four- or five-star rated child care centers, requiring the Department of Health and Human Services to collaborate with the Department of Insurance to explore ways to lower child care insurance costs, and mandating that the division submit detailed reports on the pilot program's implementation and outcomes. The bill aims to address child care workforce challenges, improve access to quality child care, and support early childhood education professionals.

Budget and Finance

https://www.ncleg.gov/BillLookUp/2025/H800