In 2026, we are taking a closer look at the Office of Childhood (OOC) by exploring the different programs that work together to support children, families, and professionals across Missouri. In this year’s newsletter series, we will spend each month highlighting different OOC programs. OOC is made up of many unique and connected parts and each plays an important role. Together, all these programs are a part of a larger system that supports families statewide. By breaking down each piece, we aim to show how OOC fits together and build a better understanding of the value of our work.
This month we are highlighting the Child Care Compliance and Regulations teams. These teams play an essential role in supporting safe, healthy, and quality learning environments by overseeing child care licensing and leading updates to Missouri’s child care rules. While much of this work happens behind the scenes, it directly impacts providers, educators, children, and families.
The Child Care Compliance and Regulations sections provide regulatory oversight and support to approximately 2,700 child care providers across Missouri. Their mission is the health, safety, growth, and development of Missouri’s children. Their work includes approving new providers and conducting inspections, training providers on rules and regulations, ensuring background checks are completed, and responding to complaints or concerns. Whether on the road visiting providers directly or in office reviewing licensing documents and applications, staff seek to prevent injury, risk, or harm to children.
In January 2025, Governor Kehoe charged OOC with rewriting child care licensing rules. The Child Care Compliance and Regulations team has dedicated the last year to carrying out Executive Order 25-15. This work follows a three-phase timeline. Phase 2 is currently underway. The main priorities are finalizing draft rule language, hosting informational sessions across the state in spring 2026, and beginning the formal rulemaking process.
Over the past six months alone, Compliance and Regulations team members have dedicated over 100 individual hours meeting to rewrite child care licensing rules. In addition to internal meetings, the team also met with other state agencies and partners to ensure alignment and accuracy, including the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), the Bureau of Immunizations, Sanitation, Fire Safety, and the National Association for Regulatory Administration (NARA). This coordination reflects OOC’s commitment to well-informed rulemaking that supports both compliance and quality.
One of the more significant changes underway is the restructuring of Missouri’s child care rules. Currently, there is a set of rules for Family Child Care Homes and a set of rules for Group Child Care Homes and Child Care Centers. Moving forward, OOC plans to combine Family Home rules with Center rules into one comprehensive rule book. The term “group child care home” will be removed but rules for small centers will remain in place. In addition to combining these two sets of rules into one, a second set of rules for programs licensed exclusively for school-age children will be created.
The revised rules will also feature new sections to make the book easier to follow. For example, in the family child care home and child care center rules, all safe sleep requirements will be in one section rather than multiple places throughout the rules and Physical Environment Requirements will house physical plant rules, as well as required equipment and materials. These updates are intended to improve clarity and usability for providers.
Just like last year, DESE will be traveling around the state to host in person sessions with providers across Missouri. This time, the sessions will be informational in nature. These informational sessions will provide high-level updates and highlight proposed changes in direct response to provider feedback from 2025. For more information on these sessions, please see the 2026 Listening Sessions Informational Flyer.
Throughout 2026, Compliance and Regulations team members will continue to review draft language, provide feedback, attend virtual meetings, and assist with outreach. OOC has emphasized all shared language remains in draft form until officially published, and providers will receive clear communication when rules are finalized.
The Compliance and Regulations Section’s work reflects OOC’s commitment to transparency, communication, and continuous improvement. By updating licensing rules with provider input at the center, this team is helping to create clearer, more consistent rules that support safe environments for children and practical guidance for providers. As one important piece of the OOC puzzle, Compliance and Regulation helps ensure that Missouri’s childhood system remains strong, responsive, and focused on children and families.