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A new report from North Carolina’s Task Force on Child Care and Early Education outlines practical steps to make care more affordable for families and more sustainable for providers. Here’s what the recommendations could mean for parents, in-home child care businesses, and communities across the state.

New and expanding child care programs in North Carolina are helping families afford care while giving in-home providers more financial stability. From state subsidies to the growing Tri-Share program, recent efforts are creating hopeful signs for home-based child care across the state.

Over the past year, North Carolina lawmakers and state officials have passed new laws aimed at making it easier for people to run child care programs from their homes. Supporters say the changes will help expand child care options for families, especially in communities where care is hard to find.

North Carolina’s home-based childcare landscape from licensed family child care homes to informal care provided by trusted neighbors and friends is seeing inspiring progress and sustained community investment. Across the state, providers are building capacity, earning new opportunities, and expanding the impact of personalized care for young children and families.

Albany and New York City, NY, January 8, 2026, New York State has taken a significant step toward making childcare more affordable and accessible for families with young children, unveiling a broad plan that builds toward free childcare access across the state. This policy push is driven primarily by Democratic leadership in Albany and New York City and represents one of the most ambitious early childhood initiatives in the state’s history.

Recent changes to childcare laws across the United States are signaling meaningful progress for families, providers, and communities alike. Long recognized as a critical part of the nation’s economic and social infrastructure, childcare is finally receiving the policy attention it deserves. From expanded tax benefits to state level reforms that increase access and affordability, these updates reflect a growing commitment to supporting working families and strengthening early childhood education.