Education

THE EARLIEST YEARS OF A CHILD'S LIFE ARE THE MOST CRUCIAL for developing a strong foundation for later learning and growing into their full potential. 

Brain research shows us that more than 1 million new neural connections are created each second in the first five years of life. This rapid expansion and learning take place while the brain is flexible and able to adapt to changes. As children age, the brain loses some of that flexibility, making it harder to rewire the neural pathways built during their early years. 

Despite the importance of early learning opportunities, many Kansas families are unable to afford or access quality, nurturing care due to cost barriers. These barriers prevent some parents from entering the workforce and attaining a stable, healthy life.

This is why KAC advocates for quality learning and nurturing child care for all Kansas kids — regardless of their zip code, race, or family income. All children deserve the opportunity to be set up for success for the rest of their education and beyond.

Educators build on the base of early learning and use it to nurture active, engaged students who become meaningful participants in society. Our public schools provide students with essential opportunities to engage and grow their passions.

Through interactions with peers and teachers, children and young adults learn to value different perspectives and experiences. As our schools work to engage with parents about their child’s education, educational outcomes often improve, and students are equipped to seize opportunities as adults.

KAC supports a strong, equitable, and well-resourced public education system so that every Kansas child is prepared for success, no matter their family’s resources. We are committed to ensuring that families and children get the care, education, and resources they need to grow up healthy and successful. 

More Must Be Done to Help Kids Reach Their Full Potential

In 2025, the Kansas Legislature established the Office of Early Childhood, which is meant to reduce barriers for families and providers while creating more efficiency in the delivery of government services. However, some lawmakers coupled the Office of Early Childhood with policies loosening regulations in a short-sighted attempt to increase much needed child care slots. The bill also expanded vaccine exemptions for children in care settings. Now that the bill is law, with many of its provisions becoming effective July 1, 2025, we hope the Legislature will take time to learn how the changes made in 2025 will impact children’s ability to grow safely and be healthy. 

READ: Establishing the Office of Early Childhood Includes Risky Changes for Children 

There is much more we can do to increase child care slots throughout the state. Kansas provides very limited funding to support early learning and child care. The most significant investment in early learning has been through the Children’s Initiatives Fund, but that source of funding is not enough to meet the needs of Kansas families. 

A comprehensive early childhood investment that addresses high costs to families and low provider wages — without compromising safety and quality — will provide a hopeful beginning and allow a new state office focused on early care and education to have the best opportunity for success. 

READ: What Is Quality Child Care? 

Child care isn’t the only area where critical funding is needed. Until recently, Kansas dealt with a series of lawsuits over the constitutionality of funding for public schools. In 2019, the Kansas Supreme Court ruled that the formula used to determine schools’ funding was adequate and equitable. Thankfully, funding has increased as required since that time, and for the first time in almost two decades, the Kansas Legislature began fully funding public schools in 2023 (with the exception of special education funding shortfalls). 

The Legislature is currently evaluating the public school funding formula and considering how to develop a new one when it expires in July 2027. We hope lawmakers can work together to provide strong investment so all Kansas kids – regardless of their ability or zip code – have a robust public education.

READ: The Education Funding Task Force and the Next School Finance Formula 

Policy Solutions

Lawmakers have abundant opportunities to pursue legislation and regulations for families to find, afford, and benefit from early education. Kansas must increase funding so more families can access high-quality, early learning opportunities for their young children. Child care is an investment in economic development, providing ample benefits to the state. Every $1 invested in early care and education can result in a return of up to $16. 

This investment in early education will pay dividends in schools across the state, resulting in stronger student outcomes. A more robust early learning system that supports families will decrease the number of adverse childhood experiences that create harmful levels of toxic stress for children. We want kids to grow up healthy and thrive and have the opportunity to become successful and engaged adults.

To ensure that the public school system continues to serve the children of Kansas, the Kansas Legislature should: 

• Invest state dollars to bolster the Kansas child care system — for example, providing funding to increase provider wages or constructing new, safe environments for children.

• Enhance the Early Childhood Education system by:
  • Expanding universal pre-kindergarten offerings and funding across the state.
  • Removing unnecessary barriers that prevent access to child care subsidies for families, such as eliminating the requirement to cooperate with child support enforcement or to work a minimum number of hours while in school.
  • Shifting child care subsidy benefits from a market rate to a cost-of-quality model. Market rate is what parents are willing to pay but does not account for benefits or a living wage for providers. A cost-of-quality model considers all necessary expenses of care, creating a rich and healthy learning environment, while allowing providers to cover all living expenses and benefits. Cost-of-quality models have proven successful in other states.
• Invest in the K-12 school system by:
  • Giving children with disabilities the same opportunities as their peers through funding special education excess costs at 92%.
  • Developing an updated school finance formula that continues to fully fund an adequate and equitable public school education when the Kansas School Equity and Enhancement Act expires on July 1, 2027.