Kansas City families need child care, and a major win is coming | Opinion
What if greater Kansas City, already a region with growing momentum, became the blueprint for what’s possible when we unite around shared issues facing our families and children?
In 2024, I contributed a Star guest commentary that reflected on the economic and emotional weight Kansas City are families carry in their search for affordable early education — my own family included. I also spoke about our region’s potential to drive meaningful change and create a future that truly benefits our youngest residents.
Since then, I have had the opportunity to connect with more parents, educators, community leaders and policymakers. Everyone agrees that the early childhood system is broken. And it is time we redesign it. If there is one thing I know to be true about early childhood and local impact, it’s that mobilization fuels change. It is the mechanism that passed a $285 million bond to transform Kansas City Public Schools, a move that had not happened in 58 years; all because residents came together for something bigger than themselves.
Now, imagine what is possible when we show up for our little learners.
To close gaps and create solutions, the Mid-America Regional Council — with the support of Kids Win Missouri, local community members and residents — has been working since February 2024 to assess the child care landscape, available funding, and the true cost of providing high-quality early education since February 2024.
According to the group’s findings, nearly 32,000 additional infant and toddler slots are needed in the Kansas City region. Findings also showed that families are dedicating 14% to 17% of their income to cover the cost of infant-toddler tuition.
As a mother navigating the child care landscape, my family spent more than $16,000 in 2024 — 14% of our income — on infant-toddler care for our two children. By the end of 2025, we are on track to pay more than $24,000.
Today, MARC and surrounding community members are exploring the implementation of the Child Care Exchange, a cost-sharing model that would split the cost among parents, providers and various stakeholder groups. This model has three key priorities
- Increase the supply of high-quality affordable child care, especially for infants and toddlers.
- Support and stabilize the child care workforce.
- Increase the affordability of quality child care.
In implementing this cost-sharing model, we are on the verge of a major win. With the state budget already passed in the Missouri House of Representatives and Senate, we are well positioned to make child care more affordable and accessible for thousands of residents here in the Kansas City region.
The Child Care Exchange is tailored to meet the needs of businesses, their employees, and local providers — benefiting all communities and their unique contexts. In participating in this work, our community will be able to address the workforce needs through strategic collaboration, and utilize existing resources to create dedicated child care slots and increase employee retention.
As both a parent and constituent, I am excited. We are about to make history. Yes, the challenge is real, and the need is great, but I am reminded that great things happen when communities come together. I am thankful to the General Assembly for passing the funding needed to support this work and grateful for Gov. Mike Kehoe’s leadership and commitment to support our early childhood system and working-class families in our state.
I am eager to see how the implementation of the Child Care Exchange will transform our region’s early learning landscape and create new opportunities for children and families to thrive.
Kansas City, get ready.
To learn more about the ongoing work in Greater Kansas City to deepen your impact, visit mochampionofchildren.com/kansas-city-region
Go to https://www.marc.org/early-learning/child-care-exchange to request more information.