Early Childhood Focus

Veto Session, Child Care Regulations and Budget

Wed, 04 May 2011 10:40:34 PST

EXCERPT FROM: The Fort Scott Tribune
By Caryn Tyson
The legislature was off for a few weeks and started back this week with veto session. Veto session is supposed to be when bills that have been vetoed are worked. Instead, it has become a time when bills that didn't make it through regular session are worked.

Cunningham Says a Childcare Facility is Needed to Keep Families in Town

Tue, 28 Dec 2010 15:18:34 PST

EXCERPT FROM: KWCH 12 Eyewitness News
By Kim Hynes
(WICHITA, Kan.) � No childcare, that's a problem many Kansas families living in small towns face. It's gotten so bad, the town of Cunningham says its lost people. And in a town of less than 500, they know it's a trend that needs to be reversed. So the community is working to build a daycare facility. And some say without it, the town's future could be in jeopardy.

New Child Care Regs Take Effect

Thu, 01 Jul 2010 15:59:43 PST

EXCERPT FROM: The Topeka Capital-Journal
By The Capital-Journal
Changes in Kansas law that take effect Thursday will alter the way many of the state's day care facilities operate.

Governor Parkinson Forms Panel to Address Early Childhood

Fri, 18 Jun 2010 15:27:39 PST

EXCERPT FROM: Lawerence Journal-World & 6News
By Scott Rothschild
Topeka � Gov. Mark Parkinson on Thursday issued an executive order to form the Kansas Early Childhood Advisory Council.

Kansas Governor Parkinson Signs Seven Bills

Fri, 28 May 2010 14:06:51 PST

Lexie's Law Passes In Kan. Legislature

Wed, 12 May 2010 13:35:41 PST

EXCERPT FROM: KCTV 5 News
By KCTV STAFF
FAIRWAY, Kan. -- Lexie's Law passed in the early morning hours on Tuesday in the Kansas Legislature.

Child Care Bill Passes Senate

Mon, 10 May 2010 09:18:07 PST

EXCERPT FROM: The Topeka Capital-Journal
By Barbara Hollingsworth
Parents still mourning the loss of their daughters moved closer to the finish line after months of work to make Kansas daycares safer.

House Studies Child Care Bill

Thu, 29 Apr 2010 12:45:39 PST

EXCERPT FROM: The Topeka Capital-Journal
By Tim Carpenter
A House committee reopened debate Tuesday on a controversial proposal to require safety inspections of home day care centers.

Letter to the Editor on Child Care Bill

Tue, 27 Apr 2010 13:22:09 PST

EXCERPT FROM: The Wichita Eagle
Kansas ranks 47th in the nation in child care standards. Currently, 1 in 3 child care settings in Kansas is never inspected. Given that 30 Kansas children have died in child care settings in the past three years and another 72 children have sustained serious injuries in the past year alone, it is time that all child care settings are inspected.

Child Care Bill Gets Nod

Thu, 18 Mar 2010 14:23:49 PST

EXCERPT FROM: The Topeka Capital-Journal
By Barbara Hollingsworth
The Kansas Senate on Tuesday took a step toward requiring inspections of all home day cares.

Child Care Oversight Could Improve

Wed, 24 Feb 2010 14:16:53 PST

EXCERPT FROM: The Topeka Capital-Journal
By Barbara Hollingsworth
The push to ensure all Kansas day cares face the watchful eyes of inspectors likely will return this week with changes.

State Needs to Inspect All Child Care Facilities

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 12:24:39 PST

EXCERPT FROM: Witchita Eagle
By Gary Brunk
I could choose to have lunch in any restaurant today and know that it gets inspected for safety and cleanliness. I could get my hair cut in any barber shop with the knowledge that it receives regular inspections from the state. But if I were choosing a child care facility for my children today, it might not have ever been inspected.

Wichita Child Care Center's Closing Leaves Parents Scrambling for Replacement Child Care

Wed, 05 Aug 2009 12:17:11 PST

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) � Nearly 100 Wichita families � including dozens with special-needs chidren � are scrambling to find child care after Rainbows United filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

SRS Taking Input on State Child Care Plan

Thu, 30 Apr 2009 10:23:36 PST

The Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services is preparing the Child Care and Development Fund State Plan for 2010-2011.

Enrollment of Kids at Child Care Centers Falls As Area Parents Lose Jobs

Wed, 04 Mar 2009 18:06:53 PST

Enrollment of kids falls as area parents lose jobs

DEB CROWL: INVESTING IN CHILDREN WILL STRENGTHEN KANSAS

Fri, 26 Dec 2008 14:51:57 PST

As the nation and Kansas struggle through an economic crisis, a new administration and Congress gear up to make choices for our future. The right choice to strengthen our economy is to invest in children. It is imperative that high-quality, affordable and accessible early childhood education become a priority in state and national investments and policymaking. Focusing our efforts on early childhood education both at the grassroots level and on a national stage will ensure the strength of America today and in the future.

Grant to Help Parents Afford Child Care in Riley County

Tue, 02 Dec 2008 15:21:23 PST

MANHATTAN, Kan. - The Kansas Children's Cabinet has announced that the Greater Manhattan Community Foundation will be awarded $400,000 in 2009 to assist families with child care needs. The funds will come from tobacco settlement dollars in the State's first Early Childhood Block Grant.

City Commission Chooses to Support Child Care Center

Thu, 06 Nov 2008 14:55:13 PST

In front of a packed auditorium Tuesday night, city commissioners granted the Manhattan Day Care & Learning Center immediate access to its 2009 Social Services Advisory Board allocation worth $65,000, helping the center keep its doors open through what it referred to as a "critical time."

Politicians Say Teach Kids Early

Thu, 23 Oct 2008 16:43:29 PST

Investing early in children could pay off, say candidates for the Kansas State Board of Education. District 4 and District 6 candidates say there is value in reaching out to children before they enter kindergarten. The issue is getting more attention nationally as data shows the drastically different levels at which children start school � making it difficult for some to catch up.

Pre-Kindergarten: Issue Is Money

Thu, 16 Oct 2008 08:55:15 PST

Two recent stories reflected a dilemma over early childhood education. One article showed that the number of Kansas students enrolled in full-day kindergarten nearly tripled in the past 10 years as legislators pumped money into public education.