Division Of Child Development & Early Ed

What Division Of Child Development & Early Ed does

The Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) is a North Carolina state government agency within the Department of Health and Human Services (NC DHHS) that regulates and administers early childhood care and education programs across all 100 North Carolina counties. Its core services include the Subsidized Child Care Assistance (SCCA) Program, the NC Pre-Kindergarten Program, child care facility licensing through a star-rated quality system (1–5 stars), criminal background checks via the Automated Background Check Management System (ABCMS, launched September 29, 2022), and workforce education tracking through DCDEE WORKS (implemented December 30, 2016). The division operates a portfolio of interconnected administrative platforms, including the NC Pre-K APP for program administration, NC FAST for subsidy processing, and DCDEE Moodle for training delivery, with NCID (North Carolina Identity) providing single sign-on integration.

DCDEE is funded through state and federal allocations, primarily the federal Child Care Development Fund (CCDF), and operates as a regulated-services platform rather than a commercial enterprise — it charges fees for ancillary services such as prelicensing workshops ($135 per person) and background checks (transaction-based), and publishes market rates for child care subsidy payments by county, star rating, and age group. Its distribution combines county-based service delivery through Departments of Social Services (DSS) and Local Purchasing Agencies (LPAs) with self-service online portals. The division serves four principal constituencies: families eligible for subsidized child care (income at or below 75% of State Median Income), licensed child care providers (centers and family child care homes), government contracting agencies administering NC Pre-K (LEAs, Smart Start Agencies, Community Action Agencies), and individuals requiring background checks (child care staff, foster/adoptive parents, DHHS personnel). Strategic partners include the NC State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) for fingerprint processing, the Child Care Commission for rule-making, and the NC Partnership for Children (NCPC). As of October 1, 2025, DCDEE operates from a new headquarters at 1915 Health Services Way, Raleigh, NC.

Name

Division Of Child Development & Early Ed

Legal name

Division of Child Development and Early Education

Website

https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) is a North Carolina state agency regulating and administering child care licensing, NC Pre-K, subsidized child care assistance, workforce education, and criminal background checks across all 100 NC counties.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Raleigh

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Government Funding - State and Federal: DCDEE is funded through state and federal funds, primarily the Child Care Development Fund (CCDF). The Subsidized Child Care Assistance (SCCA) Program is administered through allocation of child care subsidy funds to all 100 counties in North Carolina.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

DCDEE regulates child care facilities, administers the NC Pre-K pre-kindergarten program, disburses the Subsidized Child Care Assistance (SCCA) program across all 100 North Carolina counties, processes criminal background checks for child care providers and foster/adoptive parents, and tracks child care workforce education through its DCDEE WORKS portal. Services are delivered through county DSS offices, online portals (ABCMS, DCDEE WORKS), and licensed child care facilities.

Product overview

The Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) is a North Carolina state government agency that operates as a platform of interconnected administrative services for early childhood care and education. The core offerings include the ABCMS system for criminal background checks, the NC Pre-K Program for pre-kindergarten services, and the Subsidized Child Care Assistance (SCCA) Program for financial subsidies. Supporting systems include DCDEE WORKS for workforce education tracking, licensing services for child care facilities, and the Early Educator Support (EES) Unit for teacher licensure. These services connect through shared infrastructure including NCID authentication, NC FAST for subsidy processing, and the Moodle training platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• NC Pre-K: North Carolina Prekindergarten Program designed to provide high-quality educational experiences to enhance school readiness for eligible four-year-old children.
• ABCMS
• DCDEE WORKS
• NC Pre-Kindergarten

Products and services

• ABCMS (Automated Background Check Management System) Web-based system for processing criminal background checks for child care providers, foster parents, adoptive parents, and DHHS personnel. Replaces paper-based processes with online application submission, fingerprint scheduling via livescan, and status tracking.
• NC Pre-K Program State-administered pre-kindergarten program designed to provide high-quality educational experiences for eligible four-year-old children to enhance school readiness. Operates in public schools, child care centers, and Head Start programs across North Carolina counties.
• Subsidized Child Care Assistance (SCCA) Program Program that allocates child care subsidy funds to all 100 North Carolina counties. Develops and implements policy for subsidized child care assistance through the SCCA Program Policy Manual, with eligibility based on income at or below 75% of State Median Income.
• DCDEE WORKS (Workforce Online Reporting and Knowledge System) Web-based portal that serves as a single entry point to collect, report, and track child care workforce education documentation. Used by applicants to register and maintain workforce information to support education requirements.
• Licensing Services Services for licensing child care centers and family child care homes in North Carolina. Includes prelicensing workshops, on-site monitoring visits, star-rated licensing system (1-5 stars), and compliance evaluation.
• Child Care Provider Search Online search tool for parents to find licensed child care facilities in North Carolina, accessible at the DCDEE website.
• Early Educator Support (EES) Unit Unit that supports NC Pre-Kindergarten and Developmental Day Preschool Lead Teachers in non-public sites through the birth-kindergarten licensure process.

Quantifiable outcome

• NC Pre-K Program meets nationally accepted benchmarks for measuring quality early learning including staff education/licensure requirements, 1:9 staff/child ratio, developmental screens, evidence-based curriculum and formative assessments

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• North Carolina Local Education Agencies (LEAs)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLEAs administer NC Pre-K programs at the county/regional level. Programs operate in public school settings, with lead teachers required to hold or be working toward North Carolina Birth-through-Kindergarten or Preschool Add-on Standard Professional II license.
• Smart Start AgenciescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSmart Start Agencies partner with DCDEE to administer NC Pre-K programs at county/regional level. Smart Start is North Carolina's early childhood initiative focused on school readiness.
• Community Action AgenciescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity Action Agencies administer NC Pre-K programs at the county/regional level, providing another avenue for early childhood education service delivery.
• North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI)coreTechnology or IntegrationSBI provides fingerprint processing and criminal history information for background checks. SBI has provided resources to advise the status of processing fingerprints. DCDEE forwards fingerprints to SBI for state and federal database checks.
• North Carolina Partnership for Children (NCPC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNCPC hosted the NC Pre-K Advisory Committee Meeting on February 7, 2019. NCPC serves as a key partner in North Carolina's early childhood education infrastructure.
• Head Start ProgramsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNC Pre-K programs operate in Head Start program settings in addition to public schools and child care centers, providing multiple venue options for eligible four-year-old children.
• Birth through Third Grade (B-3) Interagency CouncilminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerB-3 Interagency Council coordinates early childhood initiatives across agencies to support children from birth through third grade.
• Child Care CommissioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerChild Care Commission oversees rule changes for child care regulations. Commission powers and duties include establishing rules and standards for child care facilities.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• U.S. Office of Child Care (Administration for Children and Families): Federal office that administers the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) block grant, the primary funding source for state child care subsidy programs including DCDEE's SCCA. Sets national policy framework that DCDEE operates within.

Direct peers

• New York Office of Children and Family Services: New York's state agency responsible for child care licensing, subsidy administration, and early childhood programs. Comparable scope of regulatory and financial assistance functions for child care providers and families.
• Texas Health and Human Services Commission - Child Care Licensing: Texas's state-level child care regulatory division handling licensing, background checks, and compliance for child care operations across the state. Comparable regulatory and licensing mandate to DCDEE, though covering a larger geographic area.
• California Department of Social Services - Community Care Licensing Division: California's state-level regulator for child care and other community care facilities. Comparable to DCDEE in performing statewide licensing, background checks, and regulatory oversight of child care providers through dedicated county/regional offices.
• Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning (DECAL / Bright from the Start): Georgia's dedicated state agency administering child care licensing, subsidy programs (CAPS), and Georgia's Pre-K program. Highly comparable to DCDEE in scope, regulatory authority, and pre-K administration model.
• Florida Department of Children and Families - Child Care Services: Florida's state-level administrator for child care licensing, background screening, and the School Readiness Program (subsidized child care). Closely parallel structure to DCDEE's SCCA and licensing functions.

Others

• Child Care Aware of America: National nonprofit working to improve child care quality and affordability through research, advocacy, and parent/provider resources. Comparable in subject matter (child care system quality) though operates in a research/advocacy rather than regulatory capacity.
• National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC): Professional membership organization setting early childhood education standards, accreditation, and workforce credentials. Relevant peer because DCDEE's NC Pre-K program uses NAEYC-aligned benchmarks and teacher licensure standards.

Emerging players

• Head Start (Administration for Children and Families): Federal early childhood program for low-income families that NC Pre-K classrooms coordinate and co-locate with. Adjacent program serving overlapping populations, administered through partnerships that DCDEE actively supports.

Regional players

• Smart Start of North Carolina (North Carolina Partnership for Children): North Carolina's statewide early childhood initiative and a direct DCDEE partner in NC Pre-K administration. Operates in the same geography with overlapping mission around school readiness, making it a locally embedded peer.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/division-of-child-development-&-early-ed

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Division Of Child Development & Early Ed