26-04-2025
Kansas bill seeks to enhance and expand childcare services
PITTSBURG, Kan. — A new Kansas bill has parents and childcare services relieved.
On Thursday, Kansas Governor Laura Kelly signed House Bill 2045, a bill which plans to consolidate more than 20 childcare services and early childhood programs into the Office of Early Childhood. The bill will also create more childcare openings across the state.
The Bill also focuses on increasing availability of childcare slots, allows fewer education requirements for some workers in a childcare facility and changes ratios of the number of adults to children. For one Pittsburg mom who just recently ended her search for the best childcare service after being on the wait list for 4 to 5 months later. She says it's good to know there are more options and it's less of a burden.
'It's really important they have somewhere that they can trust with their child as well. They go back to work because since it's so necessary for us to work these days, I just I feel like as a parent, it would be nice to have a place that they cannot worry about, have, like you said, like take that weight off of your shoulders while you go and work for them.' Jessica Aguilar, Pittsburg mom.
'This is just kind of making it official that they are concerned about childcare, lack of and wanting to keep those that are providing that care open.' Ann Elliott, Family Resource Center Executive Director.
The office will officially open in mid-2026, with childcare licensing, childcare subsidy, home visitation programs and the Kansas Children's Cabinet and trust fund.
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