early childhood education

Refugees coming to Kansas City often need to learn how to drive in order to get a job or go to school. One Congolese man is stepping up to teach his fellow compatriots. Plus: Despite the fact that child care can cost more than a mortgage in Kansas, providers say they can barely afford to stay open.

Child care is expensive for families, yet it doesn't bring in enough money for providers to grow or pay workers high wages. Kansas is at a crossroads.

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

New research found the pandemic led to drops in the percent of kids who were receiving early intervention and early childhood special education, both nationally and in Missouri.

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.

Since the retirement of Mesner Puppet Theater creator Paul Mesner, the nonprofit arts organization moved to a new home and rebranded as What If Puppets. They're also doubling down on a new focus: early childhood education.

In his State of the State address on Wednesday, Missouri Gov. Mike Parson said he wants to use the state’s general revenue surpluses for major transportation and capital improvement projects.

Kindergarten enrollment dropped by about 9% statewide. Preschool enrollment dropped nearly 21%. It’s too soon to tell whether the declines were a one-time thing or if they’ve stretched into this fall.

The 14,000 square foot, early education facility has capacity for up to 430 children and 65 employees.

Maria Martinez is a senior at Emporia State University in Kansas. She is currently a student teacher in a kindergarten classroom in the Kansas City, Kansas, Public Schools.

Maria Martinez, interna en educación se pregunta cómo será enseñar a su clase de kinder por primera vez este año. Así se ha preparado para ellos.

A year of school closures, quarantines and work from home underscored the importance of child care, even as providers in the Kansas City area struggled to keep their doors open.