Early Childhood Education Resource Engagement

🚨 URGENT 🚨

1. Childcare Is Workforce Infrastructure

Think of childcare as the bridge between families and employment.

When childcare is unavailable or unaffordable:

• Parents cannot accept jobs
• Workers reduce hours or quit
• Businesses cannot fill positions
• Productivity drops across industries

In Missouri, over 70% of children under age 6 have all available parents in the workforce, meaning childcare is essential for parents to maintain employment.

Without childcare, the workforce simply cannot function.

Industries most affected include:
• Healthcare
• Manufacturing
• Retail
• Education
• Food service
• Logistics and transportation

Employers often say they have a labor shortage, but the reality is:

Many workers are home with children because childcare is unavailable or unaffordable.

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2. Missouri Already Has Childcare Deserts

A childcare desert is an area with more than three children for every available childcare slot.

Large areas of Missouri already meet this definition.

This means:

• Thousands of families cannot find care
• Parents delay returning to work
• Local economies struggle to grow

In some counties, there are more than 5 children per available childcare slot.

This shortage directly impacts economic productivity.

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3. The True Cost of Care vs. What Families Can Pay

Running a safe childcare program is expensive.

Typical monthly cost of care in Missouri: Age Group
Estimated Monthly Cost
Infant
$1,600 – $2,960
Toddler
$1,600 – $2,960
Preschool
$1,400 – $1,720
School Age
$1,076 – $1,200
However, most families cannot afford these prices.

Providers are trapped in a difficult position:

• If they charge the true cost, families cannot afford care.
• If they charge less, the program becomes financially unstable.

This creates a fragile system where centers close even when they are full.

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4. Early Childhood Educators Are Severely Underpaid

Childcare teachers perform one of the most important jobs in society:

They shape brain development during the most critical years of life.

Yet many early childhood educators earn wages similar to:

• fast food workers
• retail clerks

Because of this:

• Staff leave the field
• Programs cannot hire teachers
• Classrooms close even when children are enrolled

Some Missouri centers operate below capacity simply because they cannot find teachers.

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5. The Subsidy System Is Under Strain

Missouri’s childcare subsidy program helps low-income families afford care so they can work.

But the system is currently facing serious pressures:

• Waitlists have started
• Funding enhancements are uncertain
• Payment structures may change

If subsidy support weakens:
• Thousands of working families could lose childcare
• Centers could lose stable enrollment
• Programs could close

This would impact both families and employers across the state.

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6. Childcare Closures Hurt Local Economies

When a childcare program closes, the damage spreads quickly.

One childcare center closure can affect:

• 50–150 working families
• dozens of local employers
• hundreds of children

Parents may have to:
• quit jobs
• reduce hours
• rely on unstable care

Businesses then face:

• increased turnover
• reduced productivity
• hiring shortages

Childcare closures quietly create economic shockwaves through communities.

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7. Early Education Is an Investment in the Future Workforce

Early childhood education supports:

• language development
• emotional regulation
• problem solving
• social skills

These early experiences shape future outcomes.

Children who receive strong early education are more likely to:
• graduate high school
• maintain stable employment
• earn higher wages
• avoid incarceration

Economists consistently show that every $1 invested in early childhood returns $7–$13 in economic benefit over time.

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8. Missouri’s Economy Depends on Solving This

If Missouri fails to stabilize the early childhood system, several long-term consequences are likely:

⚠️ Workforce shortages will increase
⚠️ Businesses may relocate to states with stronger childcare systems
⚠️ Families may move away
⚠️ Economic growth could slow

Meanwhile, states investing heavily in childcare are seeing:

• higher workforce participation
• stronger economic development
• more stable communities

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The Bottom Line

The fight for early childhood in Missouri is about economic survival.

Childcare:

• allows parents to work
• allows businesses to operate
• supports child development
• strengthens communities
• fuels the future workforce

Without a stable childcare system, the entire economic structure weakens.

In short:

No childcare = no workforce.
No workforce = no economy.

📚 March 2nd: A Celebration of Reading & Early Education

March 2nd is a meaningful day in early childhood and elementary education because it marks the 1904 birthday of Dr. Seuss (Theodor Geisel), one of the most influential children’s authors in history.

His imaginative books helped generations of children fall in love with reading. In honor of his birthday, the National Education Association launched National Read Across America Day in 1998 to promote literacy and encourage children across the country to read.

This day highlights:
• 📖 The importance of early literacy
• 🏫 Classroom and library reading celebrations
• 🌎 Equal access to books for all children
• ❤️ Building strong reading habits from a young age

March 2nd serves as a joyful reminder that when we place books in children’s hands, we open doors to imagination, language development, and lifelong learning.

Reading is more than a skill. It is a foundation for opportunity.

On February 26, 1869, Congress passed the 15th Amendment, a landmark moment in Black history that granted African American men the right to vote, prohibiting voting denial based on race or previous servitude. This date also marks the 2012 killing of Trayvon Martin and falls during Black History Month, which highlights contributions to education.

California African American Museum

Black History Milestones on February 26
• 1869 - The 15th Amendment:Congress passed the amendment, sending it to the states for ratification to ensure voting rights for African American men.
• 1748 (Approx.) - Prince Hall's Birth:Often considered the "Father of Black Masons" and a prominent leader in the Revolutionary era.
• 2012 - Trayvon Martin: The unarmed 17-year-old was killed in Florida, sparking nationwide protests and conversations on racial profiling.
• California African American Museum�
Early Childhood & Education Focus
During February, educational programs, including early childhood settings, focus on celebrating Black history by teaching children about influential leaders, creators, and changemakers to foster a deeper understanding of diversity and racial equity.

BASIS Charter Schools

Resources for Early Learning
• IDRA's CulturED Collection #2 includes lessons on the false science of race and biographical resources like "Yes, She Can: Michelle Obama".
• BASIS Charter Schools emphasize using this time to help children understand how Black individuals have shaped society, promoting a more inclusive and equitable future.