MO HCR57

85% of a child's brain structure is formed prior to age three, and early childhood program quality affects social, emotional, and academic outcomes.

64% of mothers with children under age six and 60% of mothers with children under age two work outside the home, making affordable early childhood education necessary for families to support themselves.

Early childhood programs employ 34,000 people in 5,000 Missouri businesses, support 120,000 workers in other industries, and serve 181,000 children with combined annual receipts of $635 million.

Research shows $17 in savings for every $1 spent on well-designed early childhood programming and family support services.

Approximately 65% of Missouri's early childhood professionals lack adequate formal education, and a 23% teacher turnover rate threatens workforce stability and child development.