I think this will be a very challenging year for us ahead.

You don’t want to invest a lot (in toys) when you know the child is not a full-time resident.

There is no bilingual child care, and these children are arriving to kindergarten without the same early childhood experiences to help them succeed.

The fact is, (we have) a very dynamic place. It changes to meet provider needs, and the staff is really good if people want and need help.

Three years ago, almost 80 percent of child care facilities (in Pitt and Martin counties) were one star. Now, it’s less than 50 percent.