RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — A new 21-minute documentary titled Take Care North Carolina is drawing attention to the ongoing challenges facing early childhood education in the state. The film explores issues surrounding the quality of child care and the broader impact of the ongoing crisis.
Candance Witherspoon, the acting division director for child development and early education, emphasized the need for strategic investments and long-term solutions to strengthen the state’s child care sector.
“We need to focus on creating a strong foundation for child care businesses to thrive and sustain,” Witherspoon said.
One key issue highlighted in the documentary is the struggle to attract and retain qualified educators. Many child care centers are unable to offer competitive salaries, making it difficult to recruit skilled professionals.
“It’s an average of about $12 an hour,” said Rhonda Rivers, director of Leaf Spring Schools.
Rivers, along with other center directors, attended the premiere of the documentary in Raleigh. The film addresses the harsh reality of recruitment and retention in the early education field.
“There are so many people with different levels of degrees, but they’re leaving the profession for better-paying jobs,” said Cassandra Brooks, director of Little Believer’s Academy.
The consensus among educators is clear: without increased funding, it is nearly impossible to attract or keep talented teachers. Many are calling for greater investment from both state and federal governments to support early childhood education.
“We know from research that great cognitive development happens from birth to age five,” Rivers said.
Brooks, who has worked in the field for years, reflected on the personal sacrifices she made for her children’s education.
“As a mother, I had to make sacrifices. I drove out of my area so my child could attend a quality school. I sacrificed time and money for that,” she said.
Parent Catie Hollis echoed these sentiments, urging for more funding to help child care centers grow and improve.
“We hope this message leads to more funding so centers can build their staff, expand, and provide families with more options,” Hollis said.
The documentary serves as a call to action for both policymakers and the public to recognize the critical need for investment in early childhood education.
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