Early childhood educators are celebrating increased funding in Missouri budget
The state funding is divided into two pots; more than $55 million is set aside for school districts and charter schools, while about $26 million is available for community-based child care providers. The programs are supposed to prioritize low-income families.
Early childhood education advocates are excited about increased funding for pre-kindergarten in the Missouri budget headed to Governor Mike Parson’s desk.
The legislature passed almost $82 million in funding for pre-kindergarten grants, but providers say funding alone won’t solve access issues for families.
There are still bottlenecks in the state’s pre-K system, said Casey Hanson, director of outreach and engagement for Kids Win Missouri.
The nagging issue is just being able to hire the workforce,” Hanson said. “And so I think having these funds available will hopefully start to allow for that expansion and we’ll see it grow over time.”
The state funding is divided into two pots; more than $55 million is set aside for school districts and charter schools, while about $26 million is available for community-based child care providers. The programs are supposed to prioritize low-income families. There is also a third funding bucket that includes about $78 million in new funding to increase childcare reimbursement rates, which includes some pre-K providers.
Missouri’s governor has said pre-K funding is one of his priorities. In his State of the State address this year, Parson said he wants to expand free pre-K to all low-income Missouri kids.
“There is a clear need to do better when it comes to early childhood,” Parson said. “Let’s meet this moment for Missouri kids, families and businesses.”