Child Care Advocates Applaud Governor Kehoe’s Continued Commitment to Strengthening Missouri’s Child Care SystemJanuary 13, 2026
Jefferson City, Mo. — Child care advocates across Missouri applaud Governor Mike Kehoe for reaffirming support for early care and education in today’s State of the State address and in his FY2027 “Foundation for Growth” budget proposal.
“Governor Kehoe’s 2027 budget proposal shows a strong understanding of how essential child care is for Missouri’s workforce, employers, and economy,” said Brian Schmidt, Executive Director of Kids Win Missouri. “These continued investments are critical for families and for strengthening communities across the state.”
The Governor’s budget maintains several key investments that help Missouri families access reliable, affordable child care, including:
- Continued funding for the Child Care Subsidy Program, which helps low-income working families and foster families afford quality care. These investments were previously increased to support adequate reimbursement rates and payment practices that support families’ access to reliable and sustainable care.
- Ongoing support for the Child Care Works program, a new cost-sharing initiative that brings together parents, employers, and the state to expand access to affordable child care to keep Missouri working.
- Sustained funding for the Missouri Quality Pre-K Program, helping more young children enter school ready to learn.
Advocates noted that while these steps represent important progress, continued partnership and long-term investment will be necessary to stabilize the child care sector and support working families.
“We’re encouraged by the Governor’s commitment and ready to work alongside state leaders, communities, providers, employers, and families to ensure Missouri continues building momentum toward a child care system that works for everyone,” Robyn Schelp, Director of Policy and Advocacy for Kids Win Missouri, added.
The Governor’s budget proposal kicks off the annual appropriations process, which will now begin working its way through the House of Representatives.
About Kids Win Missouri
Kids Win Missouri is a statewide coalition dedicated to improving the well-being of Missouri’s children through policies, investments, and systems that support families. Learn more at kidswinmissouri.org.