1. The State of Child Care in Buncombe County December 2018

2. Agenda Overview Quality Availability Affordability
Children with Special Healthcare Needs
Workforce

3. Demographics
Number of children birth through 5 years old (and not enrolled in kindergarten) = 14,139
Number of licensed facilities serving children 0-5 = 96
Number 0-5 enrolled in licensed child care = 4,110
Buncombe child poverty = 19.4%
Available child population: NC OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET, 2018
The number of five-year-olds not age-eligible for kindergarten is based on the following formula created by the North Carolina Partnership for Children: 33% of all available 5-year-olds
Child enrollment in licensed child care: Source: NC Division of Child Development and Early Education Monthly Statistical Reports, December The September 2018 report indicates 4087 children 0-5 in licensed care.
The percent of children ages 0-17 living at or below the federal poverty level for 2016 in Buncombe County (Source: Data Source: U.S.Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE). Available online at: also published April 2018 by NC Child, County level data for the 2018 Kids Count Data Book. Child poverty estimates are not available for year of age by county.
NC Office of State Budget and Management, July 1, 2017 projection, County Age Groups by Race/Ethnicity ​
The number of children served in unlicensed programs is unknown at this time.

4. MANY Types of child care
All care is regulated by NC Division of Child Development and Early Education (NC DCDEE):
Licensed programs (more than 4 hours)
Part-day, unlicensed regulated programs
(4 hours or less)
Types of licensed programs (ages 0-5):
Child Care Centers
Family Child Care Homes (FCCH)
Publicly-funded programs that make care more affordable for parents:
Head Start (3- to 5-year-olds)
Early Head Start (0- to 2-year-olds)
NC Pre Kindergarten (4-year-olds)

5. Child Care Quality How is quality defined in NC?
North Carolina uses a Quality Rating Improvement System (QRIS), which has a 1-5 star scale.
This scale is made up of two components:
1) Staff Education, and 2) Program Standards
Program standards are measured by NC Division of Child Development and Early Education using the Environment Rating Scale assessment every three years.
4- or 5-star-rated programs are considered high quality in NC.
Religious-sponsored programs do not receive a rating, unless they choose to apply.
The QRIS system is voluntary. Licensed facilities may choose to opt-out and receive a one-star rating.
In North Carolina, the licensing system evaluates the quality of care that a program provides against research-based predictors of quality, such as teacher education, staff-child ratios and the child care environment. Programs are then rated on a scale of 2 to 5 stars, with more stars typically predicting higher-quality care. Some child care facilities choose to participate in a voluntary national accreditation assessment, such as those conducted by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) and the National Association of Family Child Care (NAFCC). Becoming nationally accredited does not impact a center’s star rated license, but is an additional demonstration of quality.

6. How To find care?
Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) website
Mountain Child Care Connections
Word of mouth/ recommendations from friends and family
Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) – Search for child care
Mountain Child Care Connections is a regional child care call center, operated by Southwestern Child Development. Parents can call to receive information about child care in their area and quality standards. In Buncombe County, the number is Information is provided about:
Child Care Providers in your area
Types of care available
Tips to look for when choosing a Child Care Center for your child
Cost of Child Care and information about assistance with the cost of Child Care
Quality Indicators
Star Licenses
Parents often rely on informal networks (i.e. other parents) for recommendations about quality, cost and availability.

7. Availability over time - licensed facilities
Ages 0-12
Center
Home
Total
Report Date
Employees
Children Served
# of facilities
Total Employees
Total Children
Total Facilities
Sep-05
860
6261
125 63
292 47
923
6553
172
Sep-06
788
5041
121 57
281 48
845
5322
169
Sep-07
938
5583
120 51
248 43
989
5831
163
Sep-08
1144
5753
117 44
247
1188
6000
161
Sep-09
1057
5761
116
235 38
1104
5996
154
Sep-10
1028
5666
114
221 34
1066
5887
148
Sep-11
994
5444
113
213 33
1037
5657
146
Sep-12
1043
5720 49
210
1092
5930
147
Sep-13
1010
5432
109 40
186 30
1050
5618
139
Sep-14
1087
5521
108
192 31
1131
5713
Sep-15
1003
5380
106 41
166 27
1044
5546
133
Sep-16
1101
5408
107 37
1138
5569
134
Sep-17
984
5376
105
130 21
1011
5506
126
Sep-18
995
5282
101 18 97 16
1013
5379
This chart shows the number of children served over time, along with the number of employees working in licensed child care facilities and the number of facilities with licenses. Overall, the number of facilities and children served (ages 0-12) have decreased, while the number of total employees have fluctuated.
Source: NC Division of Child Development and Early Education Monthly Statistical Reports, September 2018 (Note: Includes all children ages 0-12 enrolled in licensed care). Figures include “personnel” serving children 0-12 at all licensed facilities in Buncombe County.

8. ENROLLMENT over time – licensed facilities
This graph illustrates the number of children ages 0-12 enrolled in licensed Buncombe County facilities over time. September is the month selected for each year of data.
Source: NC Division of Child Development and Early Education Monthly Statistical Reports, September 2018 (Note: Includes all children ages 0-12 enrolled in licensed care)

9. ENROLLMENT over time – licensed facilities
This graph illustrates the number of children ages 0-5 enrolled in licensed Buncombe County facilities over time. September is the month selected for each year of data.
Source: NC Division of Child Development and Early Education Monthly Statistical Reports, September 2018 (Note: Includes all children ages 0-5 enrolled in licensed care)

10. This graph only illustrates the number of children ages birth through 5 enrolled in licensed care in Buncombe County over time. September is the month selected for each year of data. The red line shows the total number of children served (0-5). The yellow line shows the number of children enrolled in centers and the blue line represents family child care homes. The total of the yellow and blue lines equal the red line.
Source: NC Division of Child Development and Early Education Monthly Statistical Reports, September 2018 (Note: Includes all children ages 0-5 enrolled in licensed care)

11. This graph shows the number of children served in licensed care by single year of age in Buncombe County.
Source: NC Division of Child Development and Early Education Monthly Statistical Reports, September 2018 (Note: Includes all children ages 0-5 enrolled in licensed care)

12. PERCENT OF AVAILABLE CHILDREN SERVED

13. Location within the county
The above graphic created was created by Buncombe County in Feb with data from Buncombe Partnership for Children. The graphic can be updated with the following spreadsheet of facility addresses and star-rating levels available here:
The spreadsheet includes the most recent facility data available from the NC Division of Child Development and Early Education, from September 2018.

14. Quality of Care – Trends
Source: North Carolina Partnership for Children, Early Childhood Impact Report, Draft data
Methodology: PLA40a -- Early care and education (ECE) quality is measured by the average star ratings of child placements in facilities rated stars (PLA40a) and the percentages of children in 4 and 5-star-rated facilities (PLA40b). Average star rating of child placements is calculated for children in star facilities only. Percentage in 4 and 5 star care is calculated based on all children in regulated care, including those in facilities with temporary and GS-110 licenses.

15. Quality of Care – Trends
Of the children who are enrolled in licensed care, the chart above shows the percent that are being served in high-quality care (4 or 5 star facilities).
Source: North Carolina Partnership for Children, Early Childhood Impact Report, Draft data
Methodology: PLA40b -- Early care and education (ECE) quality is measured by the average star ratings of child placements in facilities rated stars (PLA40a) and the percentages of children in 4 and 5-star-rated facilities (PLA40b). Average star rating of child placements is calculated for children in star facilities only. Percentage in 4 and 5 star care is calculated based on all children in regulated care, including those in facilities with temporary and GS-110 licenses.

16. Affordability
In NC, the average annual cost of center based care for an infant is $9,254; $8,386 for a toddler; and $7,920 for a four-year-old.
There are several options to help families pay for care if they meet income eligibility and other guidelines, including Early Head Start, Head Start, NC Pre-Kindergarten, and child care subsidies. Detailed information is available on the next two slides.
Parents receiving child care subsidies must pay parent fees of 10% of family gross income and the difference between the voucher reimbursement rate and the advertised cost of the slot, or the differential rate.
The cost of wrap-around care (extended hours before or after the official program hours) is an additional cost to families and may not be available depending on the program site, sometimes making care difficult for working parents.
Source: Child Care Aware 2017 Report ( Accurate local statistics are not currently available.

17. Early Head Start and Head start

18. NC Pre-K & Child Care subsidies

19. Average star rating - subsidized placements
Source: North Carolina Partnership for Children, Early Childhood Impact Report, Draft data
Methodology: PLA50a -- Early care and education (ECE) quality for children receiving subsidy is measured by the average star ratings of child placements in facilities rated stars (PLA50a) and the percentages of children in 4 and 5-star-rated facilities (PLA50b). Average star rating of child placements is calculated for children receiving subsidy in star facilities only. Percentage in 4 and 5 star care is calculated based on all children receiving subsidy in regulated care, including those in facilities with temporary and GS-110 licenses.

20. Subsidized Placements - % in High quality
Source: North Carolina Partnership for Children, Early Childhood Impact Report, Draft data
Methodology: PLA50a -- Early care and education (ECE) quality for children receiving subsidy is measured by the average star ratings of child placements in facilities rated stars (PLA50a) and the percentages of children in 4 and 5-star-rated facilities (PLA50b). Average star rating of child placements is calculated for children receiving subsidy in star facilities only. Percentage in 4 and 5 star care is calculated based on all children receiving subsidy in regulated care, including those in facilities with temporary and GS-110 licenses.

21. Buncombe subsidy market rates
Facility
Age Served
One Star
Two Star
Three Star
Four Star
Five Star
Child Care Center
Infant-Toddler Rate
$ 379
$ 398
$ 715
$ 793
$ 922
2 Year Old Rate
$ 356
$ 374
$ 706
$ 762
$ 854
3-5 Year Old Rate
$ 335
$ 351
$ 730
$ 747
$ 775
Family Child Care Home
Infant Rate
$ 788
$ 877
$1,022
1 Year Old Rate
$ 784
$ 874
$1,023
$ 776
$ 804
$ 833
$ 733
$ 817
$ 957
County market rates (monthly subsidized reimbursement) for Family Child Care Homes and Child Care Centers for 1-5 star licensed programs.
Source: NC Division of Child Development and Early Education, October 2018 Subsidy Market Rates.
More information about the October 2018 market rate changes can be found here:

22. Subsidy – disaggregated by race
Data provided by Buncombe County DHHS, August Total children served = 1643.

23. The Buncombe Workforce – By the numbers
Number of teachers = 730
Number of administrators = 115
Number of support staff = 142
Center directors in Region 8 earn $19.00 per hour
Teachers in Region 8 earn $13.12 per hour
Assistant teachers in Region 8 earn $10.25 per hour
WAGE$ salary supplement program participants = 122 teacher/administrators in 49 facilities
Turnover rate of WAGE$ recipients = 18%
TEACH Early Childhood scholarship program = 74 participants in 30 facilities
Facilities receiving unrestricted Smart Start grants from Buncombe Partnership for Children to maintain high quality = 63
Number of teachers, administrators, support staff source: DCDEE Enrollment Report for Centers and Family Child Care Homes, September 2018
Median Income Source: Child Care Services Association 2015 Workforce Report, Region 8 Fact Sheet (
Region 8 includes the counties of Buncombe, Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Macon, Madison, Polk, Rutherford, Swain and Transylvania. This is the most current data available. Buncombe Partnership for Children received grant funding to contract with Child Care Services Association to conduct an Early Childhood Workforce Study for Buncombe County. Surveys are being completed by teachers and directors this fall.
WAGE$ data provided by Child Care Services Association, FY Buncombe County Report, available here:
TEACH scholarship information can be found in the Child Care Services Association FY report:
Smart Start unrestricted grants provided to qualifying facilities through the Sustaining Facility Quality program.

24. Education - Teachers
Percent of children enrolled in 1-5 star centers that have at least 75% of lead teachers with associate’s degrees (i.e. 7 lead teacher education points)
Source: North Carolina Partnership for Children, Early Childhood Impact Report, Draft data

25. Education - administrators
Percent of children enrolled in 1-5 star centers that have directors with BA degrees in Early Education or BA in unrelated field and 18+ semester hours in early childhood (i.e. 7 administrator education points)
Source: North Carolina Partnership for Children, Early Childhood Impact Report, Draft data

26. Children with special healthcare needs
A variety of support programs are available for families based on child eligibility and age, including:
Children’s Developmental Services Agency
Exceptional Children’s Program
Child Care Health Consultants
SUNSHINE Program
Family Support Network
Note: This is not a comprehensive list of services.

27. Questions? Buncombe Partnership for Children 2229 Riverside Drive
Asheville, NC