BEST NC

A non-profit, non-partisan coalition of business leaders committed to improving North Carolina's education system through policy & advocacy.

[BEST NC @BESTNCorg]

New from BEST NC! Teacher Pay in North Carolina: A Smart Investment in Student Achievement. Includes new analyses of how increased and transformed teacher salary structures can make North Carolina a national leader in teacher pay! https://t.co/Ir6UJL4goa #NCEd

[BEST NC @BESTNCorg]

NC was the 1st state in the nation to ensure that qualified students had access to advanced math courses. Now, we're the 1st state to extend that auto-enroll policy to ELA, increasing access for tens of thousands of students! https://t.co/Lv1jvDNOgJ #nced #ncpol #ncga #ncbudget

[BEST NC @BESTNCorg]

The NC budget includes a $30M investment in ATR, which provides up to $10K extra to teacher leaders for taking on leadership duties, coaching their colleagues, and/or reaching more students. The result? Improved teacher quality and student outcomes! https://t.co/3UkxAM9yoP #ncga

[BEST NC @BESTNCorg]

The NC state budget was released today – an important step in shaping the state's education investments for the year ahead. Follow its progress and see the details at https://t.co/cchQgmEDYk. #NCEd

[BEST NC @BESTNCorg]

Six years after graduation, NCCCS Early Childhood Education associate degree grads from the 2017-18 class earned a median wage of $32,074, compared to $45,936 for graduates across all subject areas. Source: NC TOWER #NCEd

[BEST NC @BESTNCorg]

In 2023-24, White children made up 47% of NC's under-5 population and 52% of preschool enrollment. Hispanic or Latino children were 20% of under-5 but 14% of preschool enrollment. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS #NCEd

[BEST NC @BESTNCorg]

NC's school-age population has declined from 21% of state residents in 2000 to 19% in 2024. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Decennial Census & American Community Survey #NCEd

[BEST NC @BESTNCorg]

In May 2024, NC median wages: child-care workers $28,480; preschool teachers $30,980; preschool/child care center directors $50,270. All below national medians. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OES #NCEd

[BEST NC @BESTNCorg]

42% of NC children ages 9–35 months received developmental screening in 2024, down from 51% in 2019. The national rate was 37% in 2024. Source: 2023-24 National Survey of Children's Health #NCEd

[BEST NC @BESTNCorg]

In 2025, 43% of NC children under 18 lived at or below 200% of the federal poverty line, compared to 34% nationally. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, CPS ASEC #NCEd

[BEST NC @BESTNCorg]

NC community colleges produced 3,116 early childhood education graduates in 2024-25, up from 2,777 in 2014-15. Source: NCCCS Data Dashboard #NCEd

[BEST NC @BESTNCorg]

Thanks to everyone who joined us for yesterday's Advanced Teaching Roles sharing session at NCDPI! Find out more about Advanced Teaching Roles here: https://t.co/28CDCwHfdK

#NCEd

[BEST NC @BESTNCorg]

In NC, teachers of infants & toddlers are required to complete 1 course in early childhood education. NC Pre-K lead teachers must hold a bachelor's degree in early childhood education. Source: NCDHHS, NC Pre-K Program #NCEd

[BEST NC @BESTNCorg]

In November 2025, 54,761 children participated in NC's Subsidized Child Care Program, while 15,789 eligible children were on the waiting list, up from 4,125 the prior year. Source: NCGA Fiscal Research Division; NCDCDEE Expenditure Reports #NCEd

[BEST NC @BESTNCorg]

NC Pre-K has served 350,000+ children since 2001. Eligible families earn at or below 75% of the state median income. In 2024-25, 36% of NC counties met NIEER's enrollment target.

Source: NCDHHS; myFutureNC

#NCEd

[BEST NC @BESTNCorg]

North Carolina Pre-K served 29,050 children in 2026, down from a peak of 30,872 in 2019 and still above the pandemic low of 21,005 in 2020.

Source: NCDHHS, Division of Child Development and Early Education

#NCEd

[BEST NC @BESTNCorg]

NC child-care workers declined from 24,190 to 12,200 between 2014 and 2024, while preschool teachers grew from 9,080 to 16,820.

Source: BLS Occupational Employment Statistics (2024)

#NCEd

[BEST NC @BESTNCorg]

In 2024, 57% of North Carolina children ages 3–4 were not enrolled in school, higher than the 51% national average. #NCEd

[BEST NC @BESTNCorg]

Visit https://t.co/Hnh4xcIZj2 to see this year's North Carolina Education Facts and Figures data! #NCEd

[BEST NC @BESTNCorg]

Early childhood educators by occupation, 2014–2024:

• Child-care workers: 24,190 → 19,780 → 12,200
• Preschool teachers: 9,080 → 15,350 → 16,820
• Preschool/child-care center directors: 1,290 → 1,690 → 2,290
• Kindergarten teachers: 5,120 → 3,890 → 2,240

[BEST NC @BESTNCorg]

NC's youngest residents (ages 0–4) are: 48% White, 19% Black, 19% Hispanic, 10% Two+ Races, 3% Asian, and 1% American Indian/Alaskan Native. Explore the full data: https://t.co/TCGbBBgUvq #NCEd