State Senator Ralph Hise has been appointed to Governor Josh Stein’s new North Carolina Task Force on Child Care and Early Education. The task force will focus on developing strategies to expand access to affordable, high-quality child care and early education across the state while strengthening the child care workforce.
“High-quality child care is essential for North Carolina’s children to learn and thrive during their formative years, shaping their future education,” said Governor Stein. “Child care must be both affordable and accessible. I am proud to bring together providers, legislators, business leaders, parents, community partners, and industry experts to determine how best to support North Carolina’s families, early childhood educators, and economy.”
During his first State of the State address, Governor Stein underscored significant gaps in North Carolina’s child care system. Currently, there is only one available child care spot for every five families seeking care. Additionally, affordability remains a challenge, with four in five families paying more than the recommended 7% of their income for infant care. The child care workforce also faces hardships, as early childhood educators experience a poverty rate 17.6% higher than the state average, contributing to workforce shortages.
Senator Hise, represents the 47th Senate District, which includes Avery, Mitchell, Madison and Yancey counties.
