Child Care

The Trump administration proposed funding cuts for the early childhood education program earlier this year but later walked back the plan.

The St. Louis-area was experiencing a shortage of nearly 20,000 seats prior to the tornado, according to the Gateway Early Childhood Alliance. That number has grown since the May 16 tornado.

Speaker Jon Patterson said he expects the House to consider legislation clarifying divorce law as well as bills related to child care.

Software problems created a months-long backlog that forced some providers out of business, but Education Commissioner Karla Eslinger said 70% of that backlog has been cleared.

The St. Louis Area Diaper Bank needs more donations as its supply is dwindling. The rising cost of diapers means more families in need are reaching out for help.

The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education is weeks behind in paying subsidies for child care centers and families. Centers already were facing financial issues.

There are 46% more slots available this school year for before care, and 15% more available for after care for the 42 elementary schools in St. Louis Public Schools.

The amendment would open the way for the General Assembly to exempt child care businesses from property taxes in response to a chronic shortage.

Some Missouri day care centers have been forced to shutter as state subsidy payments remain backlogged due to glitches in a new system.

The set of tax credits, which Gov. Mike Parson mentioned during his State of the State address, gained broad bipartisan support. It stalled in the Senate last session.