Amid a monthslong backlog in a childcare subsidy program, the Missouri House’s budget and education committees have scheduled hearings for the second week of September to demand answers from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). On Tuesday, Senate Majority Leader Cindy O’Laughlin (R-Shelbina) called for her chamber to launch a similar investigation and posted on Facebook that DESE’s Office of Childhood is “a massive disaster” and that, instead of “creating more childcare”, it is running daycares out of business.
Childcare providers have been struggling to remain open, and in some cases forced to close down, due to technical issues with DESE’s disbursal of federal funds. The state-administered subsidy helps cover the cost for daycares serving low-income and foster children, who often rely on the program to pay their staff.
When asked by FOX4 about the situation, DESE officials blamed a contracted vendor, mentioning that there have been problems during the transition to a new data system, and emphasized their willingness to cooperate with legislators: “At any heading that is scheduled with lawmakers, DESE plans to be transparent about the challenges that exist, and the work being done to address the issues. According to Crystal Quade, Missouri Democratic gubernatorial candidate, “there’s a pot of more than $215 million allocated to serve more than 23,000 kids, but only $24 million has been used.”
To read the full story by the Missouri Independent, click here.