Cooper Makes Push For Child Care Funding During Stop In Charlotte

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Governor Roy Cooper was in Charlotte Tuesday to talk about the need for funding for early child care in North Carolina. He stopped at The Early Learning Center Preschool in South End to join childcare professionals and local leaders.

A new statewide survey shows that about a third of North Carolina’s child care centers are at risk of closing their doors when COVID-era funding expires this month.

In April, Cooper released his annual budget proposal which includes $745 million to keep child care centers open, give teachers raises, fund summer care programs, and more. Cooper says, “We could give an 8.5% pay raise to our public school teachers. We could also provide a $1,500 retention bonus. Plus, we could hire more counselors, more teacher assistants, more school nurses.” He continues, “North Carolina is the best state in the country for business, but we won’t continue to be first in business if we become last in education.”

North Carolina republicans are discussing different budget ideas. Senate leader Phil Berger has told reporters that house GOP leaders want to spend more than his chamber is willing to. Berger has set June 30 as a deadline to reach an agreement with the house.