North Carolina Has Record Net Loss Of Licensed Child Care Programs Since Mid-2023

By Katie Dukes

EdNC

North Carolina has had a nett nonaccomplishment of 367 licensed kid attraction programs since nan commencement of nan COVID-19 pandemic. More than 12% of those losses occurred successful nan last 4th of 2025. 

The nett nonaccomplishment of 45 programs successful 3 months represents nan largest single-quarter driblet since EdNC began search changes successful nan number of licensed kid attraction programs statewide successful June 2023. Child attraction centers and family kid attraction homes (FCCHs) had akin numbers of losses — nan nett nonaccomplishment of centers was 24 and nan nett nonaccomplishment of FCCHs was 21. 

Based connected information provided by the N.C. Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) Council successful business pinch the N.C. Division of Child Development and Early Education, EdNC previously found that North Carolina mislaid 5.8% of licensed kid attraction programs during nan 5 years erstwhile stabilization grants were utilized to supplement coach wages. That nett nonaccomplishment has accrued to 7% since nan extremity of stabilization grants successful early 2025.

Trends among licensed centers and homes

Since February 2020, nan past period of information earlier nan COVID-19 pandemic, nan number of licensed FCCHs has decreased by 24%. The number of licensed kid attraction centers has decreased by almost 1%. 

Since EdNC began search nan information successful June 2023, nan number of licensed FCCH’s has decreased each quarter, including nan nett nonaccomplishment of 21 programs betwixt October and December of 2025.

Graphic by Katie Dukes

There were 1,363 FCCHs successful February 2020. That number was down to 1,096 successful March 2025, anterior to nan extremity of stabilization grants. By nan extremity of 2025, North Carolina was down to 1,031 FCCHs.

While licensed kid attraction centers person besides knowledgeable a nett nonaccomplishment since February 2020, nan inclination has been little linear. Last quarter’s nett nonaccomplishment of 24 centers has nan number of licensed kid attraction centers approaching their lowest level since EdNC began tracking.  

Graphic by Katie Dukes

There were 3,879 licensed centers anterior to nan pandemic. When EdNC began search successful June 2023, nan number was somewhat higher astatine 3,881. Since that time, immoderate quarters person seen nett gains and others nett losses. The authorities ended 2025 pinch 3,844 licensed centers. 

Access to high-quality, affordable early attraction and learning is basal successful nan captious years earlier North Carolina’s youngest learners statesman kindergarten. And families having nan state to take from a wide assortment of kid attraction options enables parents to participate successful nan workforce aliases proceed their acquisition knowing their children are safe pinch master educators. 

Graphic by Lanie Sorrow

Trends among subgroups

In summation to monitoring wide licensed kid attraction trends, EdNC examines trends among 3 subgroups of counties each quarter.

In nan counties that dress up nan area covered by nan Dogwood Health Trust (Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Swain, Transylvania, and Yancey), nan number of licensed kid attraction sites is 7.3% little than earlier nan pandemic. These counties had a nett nonaccomplishment of 7 programs from October done December 2025. They’ve been consistently losing kid attraction programs for each of 2024 and 2025. 

In nan majority-Black counties (Bertie, Edgecombe, Halifax, Hertford, Northampton, Vance, Warren, and Washington), nan number of licensed kid attraction sites remained comparatively unchangeable during and aft nan pandemic. But successful nan 2nd half of 2025, these counties had a nett nonaccomplishment of 11 programs. They’re now 5.5% little than earlier nan pandemic.

In Robeson and Swain, which some person ample Indigenous populations, nan number of licensed kid attraction sites had besides remained comparatively unchangeable during and aft nan pandemic. In nan 3rd 4th of 2025, nan number of licensed kid attraction programs successful these counties dipped conscionable beneath pre-pandemic levels. It remained unchangeable successful nan 4th quarter. 

Editor’s note: The Dogwood Health Trust supports nan activity of EdNC.

Republish our articles for free, online aliases successful print, nether a Creative Commons license.