Midwest’s Largest Childcare Provider Expands into Nebraska with Four New Schools and 700+ Spots for Children as Demand Reaches Critical Levels
New Horizon Academy brings high-quality early education to fast-growing Omaha area amid statewide childcare shortage
OMAHA, NE (May 26, 2026) — New Horizon Academy, one of the Midwest’s largest early education and childcare providers, today announced its expansion into Nebraska with the opening of its first four schools in the state. New Horizon Academy schools will open this summer in Elkhorn, Bennington, Millard, and Gretna, bringing new childcare capacity of 736 spots for children aged six weeks through prekindergarten to some of the fastest-growing communities in the Omaha metro area.
New Horizon Academy schools provide a full continuum of early learning during the most critical years of development. The company’s research-based curriculum blends academic readiness with social-emotional learning, helping children build confidence, communication skills, and a strong foundation for lifelong success. Across its schools, more than 90 percent of children meet or exceed kindergarten readiness benchmarks.
Each Nebraska location will feature thoughtfully designed classrooms, age-appropriate learning environments, and dedicated spaces that support exploration and play, including outdoor classrooms. Programs incorporate proven approaches such as kindness curriculum and conscious discipline, helping children develop self-regulation and positive relationships. Schools also offer features that support working families, including on-site meals and highly trained educators committed to creating safe, nurturing environments where children can thrive and grow academically, socially, and physically.
The new schools come at a pivotal moment for Nebraska, where childcare has become a top economic and workforce issue. State leaders, employers, and policymakers increasingly describe childcare as essential workforce infrastructure, critical to supporting labor force participation, retaining employees, and sustaining local economic growth.
Across Nebraska, the need is significant: the state is estimated to require more than 12,000 additional childcare slots to meet demand. At the same time, many providers face staffing shortages, rising costs, tight operating margins, and some closures, creating a dual challenge: limited capacity that creates a limited workforce.
“We’re seeing firsthand that childcare is not just a family issue — it’s an economic one,” said Chad Dunkley, CEO of Minnesota-based, family-owned New Horizon Academy. “When families can’t find reliable care, they can’t work. That impacts employers, communities, and the broader economy. Nebraska is a place where we can make a meaningful difference by expanding access to high-quality childcare and early education.”
Recent analysis has shown that insufficient childcare access results in significant economic losses for the state, including reduced workforce participation and lost tax revenue. At the same time, families face affordability challenges, with the cost of care rising alongside wages and operational expenses.
Policymakers are also focused on the future of childcare support programs. Nebraska’s expanded childcare subsidy eligibility, currently operating as a pilot through September 2026, has helped more working families access care, but its long-term status remains uncertain as legislative discussions continue.
New Horizon Academy has a long history of investing in communities where childcare supply is limited or under pressure, including recent expansions in rural and regional markets across the Midwest.
The Nebraska expansion reflects the company’s broader commitment to helping communities address childcare challenges in a sustainable, long-term way.
“Communities grow when families can thrive,” Dunkley said. “By investing in childcare, we’re investing in the future workforce, local businesses, and the long-term success of these communities.”
About New Horizon Academy
Founded in 1971 in Minnesota, New Horizon Academy is a family-owned provider of high-quality early education and childcare, operating 109 schools across six states. The company is dedicated to nurturing children’s confidence, curiosity, and readiness for lifelong learning while supporting working families with trusted care. To learn more, visit newhorizonacademy.net.