Child Care

Missouri’s Board of Education changed a rule this week that had prevented many child care providers from accessing the $26 million in grant funding allocated by lawmakers this year.

The increased reimbursement rate will go to child care providers who accept a subsidy to increase access for low-income and foster families.

Two-income households are opting to make due with a single salary, but not everyone can afford that luxury. What does that mean for our collective futures?

Enrollment for Missouri-funded preschool programs fell during the 2021-22 school year, according to a new report by the National Institute for Early Education Research. Statewide pre-K and child care advocates hope recently passed legislation improves access.

But providers say more money alone won’t solve access issues that many families face.

Applicants to the state child care subsidy program often face long call center wait times and onerous paperwork requirements — and child care providers who accept the subsidy face administrative hurdles of their own.

An investigation by The Missouri Independent and MuckRock found that despite hundreds of millions in federal pandemic relief money pouring into the state, child care facilities are facing huge staffing shortages and parents are struggling with long waitlists for care.

Child care providers in the St. Louis region have had a tough past few years, as some closed during the coronavirus pandemic. Others have had trouble finding enough workers. Low staffing and low wages are taking a toll on child care centers and parents.

The child care gap across the country is more than 30%, meaning the need for quality child care far outweighs the supply — and it's worse in rural areas.

Both the Senate president pro tem and Senate minority leader agree that Missouri needs to pay state workers more. Whether they go with exactly Gov. Mike Parson’s proposed plan is yet to be determined.