(Missourinet) – Missouri’s new state budget year is in full swing with about $160 million designated to help address prekindergarten and childcare needs—a significant difference from the $800 million Governor Parson requested.
Representative Brenda Shields of St. Joseph, who led the charge on the effort, says the Missouri Legislature still accomplished a lot of good things this session for children.
“We are going to be able to provide universal pre-K for children their year before they go to kindergarten, for all those children that are 185% of the Federal Poverty Level. We put $82 million into the budget to be able to provide that,” says Shields.
Another $78 million is designated to boost childcare providers’ rates.
