Contact: Scott Holste, (573) 751-0290
Channing Ansley, (573) 751-0290
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Feb. 11, 2015
Gov. Nixon announces funding for early childhood education project in Carroll County; highlights record funding for early childhood education initiatives
Funding for early childhood education initiatives has doubled under Gov. Nixon
CARROLLTON, Mo. – Gov. Jay Nixon today visited the Head Start building in Carrollton to announce a new investment through Missouri Start Smart to expand access to quality early childhood education opportunities so that more Missouri children start kindergarten ready to succeed in school and beyond.
“Early childhood education is a smart investment with a big return, and I congratulate the folks here in Carrollton for working hard to expand opportunities for area children,” Gov. Nixon said. “My administration has been proud to double early childhood education funding, and we will continue to make this important investment in our students and our future.”
During his visit to Carrollton today, the Governor announced that through the Missouri Start Smart initiative, the Missouri Department of Economic Development will authorize a competitive funding award of $349,056 to the Missouri Valley Community Action Agency (MVCAA). This funding will assist the MVCAA in renovating a 1,779 square-foot-facility to open a new Early Head Start program in Carrollton. Carrollton does not currently have Early Head Start. This facility will have the capacity to serve up to 12 pre-K children from infant (6 weeks) until they turn 3 years of age.
“Early Head Start is an investment in the future of our Missouri’s Children and it is wonderful to work with Gov. Nixon, the Department of Economic Development and the City of Carrollton to achieve a bright future for the kids in Carroll County,” said Pam La Frenz, Missouri Valley Community Action Agency Executive Director. “This type of quality childcare, for our youngest and most vulnerable children, is the most difficult to find and we greatly appreciate the Governor’s efforts to increase preschool funding.”
“We are investing more today in early childhood education than ever before,” Gov. Nixon said. “During difficult budget times, we’ve been innovative with our federal resources in order to achieve record early childhood education funding. As a result, more children, in more communities, have access to affordable early childhood education programs to help them succeed in school and to help their parents stay in the workforce.”
As the first official business of his second term, Gov. Nixon met with early childhood education officials, educators and advocates about the importance of improving and expanding access to quality early learning opportunities, and to develop a plan to find additional early childhood education dollars.
The result of this effort has been a significant increase in funding for the Missouri Preschool Program, from $7.7 million in Fiscal Year 2013, to $12.7 million in Fiscal Year 2015. The Governor’s Fiscal Year 2016 budget proposal maintains this funding increase for the Missouri Preschool Program at $12.7 million.
The Governor’s Fiscal Year 2016 budget proposal also includes an additional $11 million investment, made available through the federal TANF program, to help low-income families access early childhood education opportunities.
In addition to these funds, in 2014, the Governor launched Missouri Start Smart to support the development, expansion or improvement of high-quality early childhood and pre-kindergarten programs throughout the state. To date, 11 Missouri Start Smart early childhood education projects are underway across the state, serving up to 1,215 pre-school age children.
In total, through the Missouri Preschool Program, Missouri Start Smart, and the new low-income family preschool initiative, Governor’s investments in early childhood education initiatives have more than doubled since Gov. Nixon took office:
|
Year |
Missouri Preschool Program |
Missouri Start Smart |
Preschool for low-income families |
TOTAL investments under Gov. Nixon |
|
FY2010 |
$14.3 million |
|
|
$14.3 million |
|
FY2011 |
$14.3 million |
|
|
$14.3 million |
|
FY2012 |
$11.4 million |
|
|
$11.4 million |
|
FY2013 |
$7.7 million |
|
|
$7.7 million |
|
FY2014 |
$11.7 million |
$7.1 million |
|
$18.8 million |
|
FY2015 |
$12.7 million |
$2.3 million |
|
$15.0 million |
|
FY2016 |
$12.7 million proposed |
$6.0 million |
$11.0 million |
$29.7 million |
Gov. Nixon has made public education in Missouri a top priority of his administration. Even during the height of the recession, Gov. Nixon worked across the aisle to balance the budget every year without raising taxes or making deep cuts to K-12 classrooms.
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