The North Carolina Task Force on Child Care and Early Education delivers guidance to Governor Josh Stein and other state leaders on opportunities to improve access to affordable, high-quality child care and early education in North Carolina for the betterment of children, families, and our state’s economy.

The Task Force is chaired by Lieutenant Governor Rachel Hunt and Senator Jim Burgin (District 12).

Governor Stein established the Task Force in March 2025 with Executive Order 10: Establishing the North Carolina Task Force on Child Care and Early Education. Meetings of the Task Force are public and may be attended in person or streamed virtually by members of the public.

The Task Force works to:

  1. Examine the role of financing in North Carolina’s early childhood education system, including strengths and gaps in the current funding model and system infrastructure.
  2. Review and evaluate policy solutions that strengthen the supply of accessible, affordable, safe, and high-quality child care and early education by reviewing and establishing strategies to recruit and retain a strong child care and early education workforce, expand child care supply for the public sector workforce, and maximize compensation, opportunities, and additional supports for early childhood education providers and teachers.
  3. Identify opportunities to maximize the impact of existing funding and develop recommendations to direct new public and private investment towards gaps in system infrastructure, especially engaging with the business community.
  4. Submit a preliminary report describing Task Force activities and recommendations to the Office of the Governor by June 30, 2025 and a year-end report by December 31, 2025 and annually thereafter by December 31 of each year.
  5. Provide advice and guidance on any other matter the Governor refers to the Task Force.

Meeting Schedule

Task Force meetings
Task Force Work Group meetings

Reports

Resources

Task Force Staff

  • Samantha Cole, Child Care Business Liaison, NC Department of Commerce (Lead Staff)
  • Emily Roach, Director of Policy and Strategic Planning, NC Department of Commerce
  • Madhu Vulimiri, Senior Advisor for Health and Families Policy, NC Office of the Governor
  • Stephanie Austin, Director of Constituent Services, North Carolina Office of the Lieutenant Governor
  • Christie Darling, Legislative Assistant, Office of North Carolina Senator Jim Burgin
  • Nicole Boone, B-3 Policy Advisor, Division of Child Development and Early Education, NC Department of Health and Human Services
  • Kimberly Mallady, Senior Early Childhood Policy Advisor, Division of Child Development and Early Education, NC Department of Health and Human Services
  • Jane Chiulli, Senior Policy Advisor, NC Department of Health and Human Services
  • Karen Wade, Policy Director, NC Department of Health and Human Services
  • Jordan Etters, Program and Policy Coordinator, North Carolina Department of Administration

Work Group Staff

  • Child Care and Early Education Finance and Funding Work Group
    • Kimberly Mallady, Senior Early Childhood Policy Advisor, Division of Child Development and Early Education, NC Department of Health and Human Services (Lead Staff)
    • Jane Chiulli, Senior Policy Advisor, NC Department of Health and Human Services
  • Child Care and Early Education Workforce Compensation and Supports Work Group
    • Madhu Vulimiri, Senior Advisor for Health and Families Policy, North Carolina Office of the Governor (Lead Staff)
  • Child Care and Early Education for Public Sector Workers Work Group
    • Samantha Cole, Child Care Business Liaison, North Carolina Department of Commerce (Lead Staff)
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