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Although food insecurity can be faced by anyone, Black and Latino children are twice as likely to face hunger. And in 2022, 33% of single-parent families experienced food insecurity. (LIGHTFIELD STUDIOS/Adobe Stock)

MO gears up for participation in kids' summer food program

Missouri is planning ahead to make sure kids from lower-income families have enough to eat this summer. The state has opted into a federal food …

Census data from 2020 included population counts of nearly 1,500 race and ethnicity groups and American Indian and Alaska Native tribes and villages. (Rawpixel.com/Adobe Stock)

Report: MO could do better to ensure children's well-being

A new report examined children's well-being in every state and found in Missouri, the outcomes vary greatly depending on race. In its "Race for …

Did Parson's abortion stance prompt historic family, education funding?

State legislators applauded Missouri Gov. Mike Parson's State of the State address last week - although for very different reasons. The governor's …

Part of the program allows taxpayers who donate to child-care facilities to receive the tax credits. Another portion would issue tax credits to employers who provide child care for their employees.(Rawpixel.com/Adobe Stock)

Child care tax credits gain momentum in MO

While Missouri's legislative session has just begun, child-care tax credits are at top of mind with a bipartisan House bill. HB 1488 takes a three-…

More than 180,000 rural students attend public pre-K-through-12 schools in Missouri, almost double the rural U.S. average. (Song_about_summer/Adobe Stock)

Where's the money for rural Missouri education?

Nearly half of Missouri's public schools are in rural areas, and they serve more than one in five of the Show-Me State's students. But Missouri …

Gov. Mike Parson in June signed the fiscal year 2024 budget, which included an increase to the child-care subsidy rate from July 1 through next June 30. (Oksana Kuzmina/Adobe Stock)

Missouri gets jump in child-care subsidy rates

An increase in child-care subsidy reimbursement rates up to 58% of market rate is being hailed as a big win for providers in Missouri. Sarah Gould …

Many of Missouri's working parents have limited and often unaffordable access to quality child care, resulting in

MO loses $1.35 billion annually due to child care issues

Among Missouri parents surveyed, 30% reported they have limited their working hours or stopped altogether because of unreliable child care. The …

While you may feel too busy to de-stress, you can decide to take back your

Simplify Family Schedule to Decrease Stress, Boost Heart Health

As fall classes and after-school activities are in full swing, Missouri families can feel pressure to do it all, but the American Heart Association …

According to Salary.com, Missouri child care workers typically earn between $32,581 and $41,250 annually. (lordn/Adobe Stock)

MO Child Care Experts Elaborate on Issues in 2023 Kids Count Report

The resounding theme of the 2023 Annie E. Casey Foundation's Kids Count Data Book is child care shortages and unaffordability. In Missouri, the …

Staffing shortages at the Department of Social Services have led to parents seeking child care assistance being placed on hold for as long as two or three hours. (Adobe Stock)

Praise for MO Early Childhood Funding; Concerns About Sustainability, Gaps

Missourians scored some big wins for child care and pre-K programs in the 2023 legislative session, although some said it is just a start. Brian …

Nearly 30% of Missouri families reported paying more than $1,000 a month for child care, according to a report from United WE. (santypan/Adobe Stock)

MO Budget Proposal Includes Dispersing Federal Funds for Child Care

More than half of Missouri families report paying more than $500 a month for child care, and child-care providers have been struggling to keep their …

Kansas City has one of the largest after-school chess programs in the country, attracting students of all ages. (venturaartist/Pixabay)

Missouri's LINC Chess Linked to Better Student Outcomes

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The game of chess dates back to the sixth century, and Kansas City schools are capitalizing on that staying power to get …

A new national report ranks Missouri 28th among states in terms of child well-being, but about one in five of the state's children lives in poverty. (deaconess.org)

Kids' Well-Being in MO Ticks Downward; Bright Spots Remain

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – A comprehensive annual report on children's well-being in the U.S. ranks Missouri 28th out of the 50 states. That's a …

Community health workers in some Missouri schools help students find resources beyond school, from health services to shoes or clothing if needed. (sonja_paetow/Pixabay)

MO Public Schools See Value of Community Health Workers

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - Kids need both social and emotional tools to be successful in school, and one Missouri school district is doing its best to see …

The 21st Century Community Learning Centers offers a broad array of additional services, programs, and activities, focusing on subjects such as youth development, nutrition and health education. (Pixabay)

Trump's Proposed Cuts Could Shutter Missouri's After-School Programs

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – For the second year in a row, the Trump administration has proposed the elimination of funding support for local after-…

Forty-five states have early childhood quality assessment and rating systems. (Pixabay)

Missouri Bill Could Help Parents Find Best Child Care

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Parents in Missouri seeking child care typically rely on word of mouth and social media platforms such as Yelp to find …

Retired military leaders in Missouri spearhead the effort to educate lawmakers on the link between quality preschool and a better prepared military and workforce. (Pixabay)

Retired General: Military's Recruitment Problem is Everyone's Problem

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — The Department of Defense estimates that 71 percent of the roughly 34 million 17- to 24-year-olds in the United States …

More than 100,000 Missouri children live in immigrant families. (26057/Pixabay)

Minority, Immigrant Families Face Largest Childhood Obstacles in MO

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – The biggest barriers to success for Missouri's children are in the paths of black and Hispanic populations, and children …

One topic that was missing from the last presidential debate: children. Advocates hope the topic will be addressed Sunday night. (Christine Fletcher)

Advocates: Children's Voices Not Being Heard in Campaigns

ST. LOUIS – Advocates for families say the presidential candidates, Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Hillary Clinton, need to talk about …

Advocates say lawmakers need to find a way to fund quality child care for all young Missourians. (Virginia Carter)

Missouri Parents' Dilemma: Quality vs. Cost of Child Care

ST, LOUIS -- Parents' income shouldn't reflect the quality of child care they can get for their children, advocates say. For nearly 70 percent of …

March is Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month. Advocates say we've come a long way in accepting people with differences. (Victoria Jordan)

Beauty Highlighted During Disabilities Awareness Month

OZARK, Missouri - In 1987 President Ronald Reagan declared March Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month, calling on Americans to provide the …

The U.S. Postal Service receives, and helps answer, millions of letters to Santa each year. (USPS)

Yes, Missouri, There is an "Operation Santa"

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo - At a time when "goodwill toward men" may seem to be in short supply, many kids across Missouri and the nation will have their …

PHOTO: Childhood is less fun and games and more of a struggle for Missouri kids who grow up impoverished. A new report encourages the use of an updated tool to measure and combat child poverty. Photo credit: Hilary Clarcq/Morguefile.

Report: Measuring Child Poverty is Key to Fighting It

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - It's been more than 50 years since the federal government's official measure of poverty was created, and a new report from the …

PHOTO: Missouri Secretary of State Jason Kander has been popping in at local libraries to read to children as part of the

Missouri Kids "Racing to Read" Thanks to Library Grants

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Thousands of Missouri children and their caregivers are kicking their reading skills into high gear this summer, with …

PHOTO: Missouri must work harder as a state to ensure equal opportunity for all children, says a new report from the Annie E. Casey Foundation. Photo courtesy of U.S. Department of Education

Some MO Children Face "Color Barriers" To Success

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - If all Missouri children deserve a chance to succeed, the state has some work ahead to ensure them equal opportunity. That's …

PHOTO: Educators say it's never to soon to begin reading to a child, and they encourage Missouri families to make reading a priority during

Missourians Encouraged to Make Reading a Family Affair

ST. LOUIS - March is Reading Month, and educators and librarians across the state hope Missouri families will take this opportunity to help children …

PHOTO: The YMCA Early Learning Readiness Program for Informal Family, Friend, and Neighbor Caregivers teaches those who watch young children how to provide better learning opportunities for those in their care. Photo courtesy YMCA of the USA.

Early Learning Program Helps Low-Income Kids, Caregivers Succeed

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - It's been said that it takes a village to raise a child, and the YMCA is reaching out to that village through a pilot program …

PHOTO: For many people the words 'discipline' and 'punishment' are interchangeable and, while both may lead to behavior change, one expert says there's a major difference in how each connects a parent and child. Photo credit: John Ragai

New Year's Resolution for Parents: Discipline, Not Punishment

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – It isn't among the list of typical New Year's resolutions, like quitting smoking or losing weight. But one expert says a …

PHOTO: Savvy Cyber Kids materials in the classroom. The online teaching materials, and books for sale, help guide the youngest citizens on Internet safety, bullying response and ethics. Photo courtesy of Savvy Cyber Kids

Expert: Cyber Security Awareness Should Start Before Age 5

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - Children are beginning to use technology at an increasingly younger age, so experts say privacy, bullying protection and online …

March 1 automatic budget cuts would cut education, nutrition programs and more Courtesy of: AFSC

March Sequester Takes Nearly $23 Million from MO Schools

ST. LOUIS - The sequester is scheduled to start kicking in on Friday. According to a new White House analysis, Missouri will lose nearly $23 million …

New Report: Poverty Rate Continues to Climb for Missouri Kids

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The Annie E. Casey Foundation's new KIDS COUNT Data Book finds children in Missouri are not doing so well economically. The …

House GOP Proposes Cuts to Sex Ed, Women's Health Programs

ST. LOUIS - In the name of balancing the federal budget, House Republicans have proposed cuts for teen pregnancy prevention programs, slashing …

Giving Thanks All Year Long

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - 'Tis the season for giving thanks, but for children, the focus is often more on what they may get than give. Many parents may be …

School Athletes Need Preparation to Prevent Injuries

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - Whether it's football, soccer, cheer-leading, or tee-ball, fall sports season is already in full swing for many kids in …

Missouri, Roll Up Your Sleeve!

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - With a new school year starting this month, health officials in Missouri are encouraging parents to get their children up to …

Report: 3rd Grade Reading Skills Predict High School Graduation

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - Kids struggling with reading in third grade are more likely to miss out on a high school diploma, according to a new study that …

Report: Outdoor Time Boosts Academic Performance for MO Kids

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - Back-to-school has traditionally meant less outdoor time for children, and a new report from the National Wildlife Federation (…

Animal Shelter Helps Prevent Bullying in MO Schools

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - With Missouri children back in school, it generally won't take long before a child experiences an incident of bullying. The U.S…

Partnerships Changing the Face of Summer School in MO

ST. LOUIS - It may be summer break, but a busy day is planned for thousands of children as part of National Summer Learning Day today. It's an annual …

Keeping MO Kids Off the Obesity Track

ST. LOUIS - Eating a little less and exercising quite a bit more are at the center of a new set of national guidelines aimed at keeping kids…

Environmental Health Risks: Not Just Cancer

WASHINGTON, D.C. - A recent report delivered to President Obama by a special panel appointed by President Bush warned that the risk of cancer from …

Report: Dramatic Rise in TV Violence against Teen Girls

Kansas City, MO - It's enough to make any Missouri parent squirm with discomfort - and then change the channel. The Parents Television Council has …

Food For Thought: Feed A Child, Improve Their Education

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Many people may still feel stuffed from their Thanksgiving Day feasts and all the leftovers. But for others, this week is another …

Study: What We Eat Linked to Learning Disorders

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - The diets of American children could be undercutting their brain power. That's according to a new study, which shows a link …

Cure for Summer Boredom – Read a Book About America’s Wilderness

Jefferson City, MO – Every summer, kids out of school start suffering from the "There's Nothing to Do Syndrome," commonly called boredom…

Seclusion Rooms In Schools, Even In Missouri, Get National Attention

Washington, D.C. – Testimony is taking place this week in Washington, D.C., regarding the use of seclusion rooms for students with disabilities …

Helping Missouri Children Overcome the Consequences of Violence

Springfield, MO - Childcare providers in Missouri will learn new research this week about the suspected link between violence and brain development …

The Economic Downturn’s Hidden Cost - Child Abuse

Jefferson City, MO - Children's advocates say the hidden toll of the economic crisis could be playing out behind closed doors with Missouri's …

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MO: Early Childhood Education