The Department has announced the awardees of the Missouri Preschool Program grants. The grants total $1.4 million in start-up or expansion funding for programs around the state. Twenty-eight grants have been awarded:

• 20 grants to public schools
  • Western Missouri – Appleton City R-II, Belton #124, Clinton, Holden R-III, Independence
  • Eastern Missouri – Bayless (St. Louis), New Haven, Parkway, Riverview Gardens, Union R-XI
  • Central Missouri – Osage County R-I, Morgan County R-I, Stoutland R-II
  • Southwest Missouri– Branson, Chadwick R-I, Republic R-III, Stockton R-I
  • Southeast Missouri – Clarkton C-4, Puxico R-VIII, Scott City R-I
• Seven grants to private providers
  • Bright Beginnings Child Care and Preschool, Summersville
  • Community Child Development Center, Macon
  • Creative Expressions Learning Center, Imperial
  • Greater Works Academy of Innovative Leaders, St. Louis
  • Magical Adventures Learning Center, Wentzville
  • Nevada Preschool Academy, Nevada
  • Odessa Learning Center, Odessa
• One grant to a college/university
  • Harris-Stowe State University, St. Louis

The Department uses its portion of the Early Childhood Development, Education and Care fund to promote high quality early childhood care and education programs for children who are one or two years from kindergarten eligibility. 

“Ensuring that all children begin kindergarten ready to succeed in school is a primary goal of Missouri’s Top 10 by 20 plan,” said Commissioner of Education Margie Vandeven. “We are excited about this opportunity to help preschool programs across our state begin or expand high quality early childhood education.”

Top 10 by 20 is an ambitious effort for Missouri’s student achievement to rank among the top 10 states by 2020.