New Horizon Academy Expands in Nebraska Amid Childcare Shortage
In response to a pressing need for childcare, New Horizon Academy has launched four new facilities in Nebraska, with plans for additional locations. This expansion comes as the state grapples with a significant shortfall in available childcare spots, a challenge echoed across the United States.
A report from the Buffett Early Childhood Institute highlighted a potential gap of 17,568 childcare spots in Nebraska by 2025. Furthermore, a 2026 analysis indicated that the Omaha area alone lacks more than 4,000 spots. These figures underscore the critical need for increased childcare infrastructure in the region.
Chad Dunkley, the CEO of New Horizon Academy, recognized the growing population and the accompanying demand for childcare in Omaha and its neighboring areas. The newly opened schools have added 736 spots to the local childcare landscape.
“We’re happy to be part of the solution of adding childcare capacity to a community that needs it,” Dunkley stated.
The new schools are strategically located, with two in Elkhorn, and one each in Gretna and Bennington. The expansion will continue with a new location in Lincoln scheduled for February, followed by another in Papillion in spring 2028. Dunkley emphasized the use of a specialized software program that helps identify optimal locations based on future housing developments and commuting patterns.
Clare Sanford, vice president of government and community relations at New Horizon Academy, stressed the importance of childcare infrastructure, equating it to essential services like water and electricity. “Childcare is infrastructure just like water, sewer, electricity, all the things that housing or that new business development needs,” she explained.
New Horizon Academy’s strategy includes opening multiple schools within a city to foster collaboration among educators, allowing them to share resources and support. The organization also provides a team of behavior and mental health specialists to assist teachers in managing classroom challenges and supports educators in obtaining their child development associate credentials.
Dunkley noted the financial demands of maintaining high-quality childcare services. “The reality is, it’s expensive to do it well,” he said. “You have to have really good curriculum. You have to have the kinds of supplies and resources in a classroom that children need to thrive. Most important, you have to have amazing teachers who are well trained.”
Sanford acknowledged that not all providers have access to these resources, which can result in closures, particularly in areas with a high demand for childcare services.
