Missouri childcare providers have classrooms sitting empty and parents eager to fill them. But with funding stretched thin, the state isn’t approving most new applications for subsidies that would make those openings affordable.
There were 11,618 children on the waiting list for Missouri’s childcare subsidy program on Oct. 5 — more than a third of all children eligible for assistance — according to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.
The department established the waiting list after demand increased by 19% between January 2025 and late February, exceeding the amount of money appropriated for fiscal year 2026.
The program helps cover the cost of childcare for families earning no more than 150% of the federal poverty level. That’s $40,980 for a family of three, or the equivalent of one person earning $19.70 per hour for a year of full-time work. Families are responsible for paying a sliding scale rate based on their monthly income.
Source: The 74 — Read the full article on the original site ↗