Elizabeth City, N.C. — Elizabeth City State University (ECSU) is one of 16 North Carolina schools selected by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) to help address the state’s child care workforce shortage. With the funding, ECSU will launch new Child Care Academies—shortened, intensive training and certification programs that prepare participants for child care careers at no cost.
As part of the initiative, ECSU faculty member Jannifer Sykes, associate professor in the Department of Education, has received a $35,932 contract from NCDHHS to support the university’s participation in the program. The project period runs from Oct. 2025, through July 2026.
Funded through the NCDHHS Division of Child Development and Early Education using federal Preschool Development Grant funds, the Child Care Academies are designed to provide accelerated, high-quality training that prepares participants for careers in child care. The initiative is intended to address staffing shortages that continue to strain child care programs statewide.
“North Carolina’s early learning system depends on a strong, well-prepared workforce, and the Child Care Academies are designed to meet that need head on,” said Michael Leighs, NCDHHS deputy secretary for opportunity and well-being, in a statement. “By providing free high-quality training, we’re opening doors for new educators while supporting families and ensuring children across our state have access to safe and nurturing care.”
In northeastern North Carolina, working families still struggle with access to child care and not enough staff. ECSU wants to open new pathways for early childhood education and make the workforce stronger. By offering free, local training, the university will help balance community needs and support economic stability for families who depend on quality child care.
Traditional early childhood education programs can take weeks or months. The Child Care Academies offer a fast-paced curriculum. This meets or exceeds North Carolina’s minimum training standards for new child care professionals. Each school decides program length and format. Both in-person and virtual training are available for statewide access.
Training includes CPR, first aid, health and safety, safe sleep, and playground safety. It also covers how to spot and respond to suspected child maltreatment. Participants also study the North Carolina Foundations for Early Learning and Development, Environment Rating Scales, and Pathways to the Stars, the state’s quality rating system. Support for required criminal background checks is included.
“Children in early childhood care and education environments need well-prepared teachers to help keep them safe, healthy and learning,” said Candace Witherspoon, director of the NCDHHS Division of Child Development and Early Education. “Child Care Academies quickly and fully prepare teachers to provide quality care and education to children and families in their communities.”
Each participating institution is required to host at least three Child Care Academies. Interested participants are encouraged to contact the admissions office of the institution offering the academy for enrollment information.
In addition to ECSU, participating institutions include Appalachian State University, Bladen Community College, Central Carolina Community College, Central Piedmont Community College, Davidson-Davie Community College, Durham Technical Community College, Forsyth Technical Community College, Guilford Technical Community College, Montgomery Community College, Nash Community College, Pitt Community College, Roanoke-Chowan Community College, Sandhills Community College, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and Wilson Community College.
The Child Care Academies align with recommendations from the NC Task Force on Child Care and Early Education and are intended to strengthen the state’s early learning infrastructure while enabling more parents to remain in the workforce.