New program set to launch to help ease child care costs
Erika McGuire
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)
The Jefferson City School District opened its new Early Childhood Center on Thursday.
The new facility, located at 1840 E. McCarty St., doubles the number of students served from 150 to 300 out of the district’s approximately 600 annual early childhood graduates, according to school officials.
Construction was paid for with proceeds from a bond issue that passed with 68% voter approval in April 2024. The district borrowed $85 million in total, with $22.5 million budgeted to pay for the Early Childhood Center’s construction.
District leaders emphasize the long-term benefits of early childhood education, noting that students who attend preschool are more likely to succeed academically, graduate high school, attend college and avoid unemployment.
Several organizations including, the Jefferson City Area Chamber of Commerce Workforce Coalition, C&S Employment Services and other organizations across the community and state are a part of the development of a new pilot program called “Child Care Works.”
The program is designed to help employers cover the cost of child care costs for employees.
Gov. Mike Kehoe has approved $107 million to support timely payments based on enrollment for child care provides, $10 million for child care innovation grants to improve child care supply and $2.5 million to launch the program.
President of C&S Employment Solutions, Paula Benne says Missouri families feel the burden of expensive child care costa and the goal of the program is to make it more affordable.
“If a business puts in 30% of an employees child care expense the state will match up to 40% of that childcare expense,” Benne said.
The program has been in the works for five years, Benne said, after the COVID-19 pandemic hit the child care industry hard.
An analysis done this year by Chile Care Aware found 97% of Missouri counties are infant and toddler child care deserts, and families spend at least 14% of their income on care.
The analysis found one-third of infants and toddlers in Cole County lack access to licensed care and 20% of pre-kindergarten children remain unserved.
The Child Care Works Program aims to change that.
“If you’re talking an average child care $12,000 a year and you get that families expenses down to $3,600 thats huge,” Benne added.
The pandemic forced child care centers across the country to close, limiting access to care. But Benne says this program could also help the centers themselves.
“It’s going to attract staff for our child care centers, which will open up more rooms and more availability for families,” she said.
Child Care Teacher Melissa Small, has worked in child care for years and says the lack of facilities and employees is something she sees first hand.
“I believe it’s just not many people who want to work in childcare anymore so we’re losing a lot of child care employees burnout is a thing,” Benne said.
The program, Benne says it also a win for businesses.
“Small business federal tax credit that they can get up to 50% federal tax credit large businesses can get up to 40% federal tax credit so that cuts it in half their contribution to this program,” Benne said.
Benne said about 10 businesses, including child care centers have signed up for the program.
The pilot is texted to launch Oct. 1 or mid October in Cole, Moniteau, Osage and Callaway counties.
Benne says they’ll evaluate its impact early next year, with hopes to expand it statewide.