In the Autumn of 1960, the Greensboro Day Care Association and the State Department of Social Services, and the Licensing organization, invited a group of licensed operators to meet and discuss the possibility of organizing a state day care association.  Having a license was voluntary, but centers which provided infant care could not be licensed in the 1960's.  In November of that year, the NC Day Care Association elected it's first president, Sylvia Eagle, owner/operator of Kiddie Korner Day Schools, Inc. of Charlotte.  The executive board adopted by-laws for the new association and began soliciting members from across the state.  The original by-laws extended membership only to those who were owner/operators of licensed centers, and each center had one vote.

The original goals of this group were to improve day care standards,provide training for staff and to get the NC Legislature to pass a mandatory licensing law.  For approximately 10 years members of the executive board and other interested parties made many trips to Raleigh to speak at Legislature Committee meetings about passing laws that would require day care facilities to be licensed.  In July 1971, the State of NC reached a landmark in children's legislation when the General Assembly enacted a mandatory licensing law for child care facilities.  This first legislative accomplishment became effected on January 1, 1972.  It was an attempt to provide minimum standards for health and safety as well as to provide the framework through which child day care programs could upgrade their services for children and parents. 

In the 1970's the NC Day Care Association also upgraded its services to day care centers when it opened its membership to anyone who was interested in providing quality services to children.  The membership included owners/operators, teachers, social workers, vendors, etc.  Each member had a vote, not just one per center.  The executive board of the association continued to speak out for children.  In August of 1974 members of the NCDCA served on an advisory committee of professionals to help develop AA standards.  These recommendations were presented to citizens of NC during November 1974 with 6 mini-conferences in the public hearing format held across the state.  Comments made at these hearings were documented and considered by the Board.  On January 31, 1975, a set of AA standards was adopted by the Child Day Care Licensing Board. 

Each time new legislation concerning child care is being considered in NC, NCDCA's voice is heard.  Since its inception almost 45 years ago, NCDCA has been a front runner in speaking out for the needs of children in our state.  We are proud to hold up our legacy of "taking a stand for children!"

In June of 2004, "NCDCA" made a proactive move to change its' name to "NCECA"... North Carolina Early Childhood Association.