Kansas
Policy Strategies & Innovations Link copied!
| Innovation Name | Innovation Type | Innovation Subtype | Features at a Glance | Strategy Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Child Care Capacity Accelerator Grant Program | Expansion | Physical Space and Facilities | One-time funding |
In 2022, the state used Strengthening People and Revitalizing Kansas (SPARK) funding to create a grant program to support construction, major renovation, and operational activities to add high-quality and sustainable licensed childcare seats. The Child Care Capacity Accelerator grant program is administered through the Children’s Cabinet and Trust Fund (KCCTF) and the Kansas Department for Children and Families. A maximum of $39 million will be awarded for capital investments/construction and operational costs incurred during the project period. While there is no set minimum or maximum award amount, KCCTF anticipates awards in the range of $250,000 to $2,000,000 for collaborative projects that significantly close the child care capacity gap. Learn More: Child care capacity acceleratorSources: All in for Kansas Kids. (n.d.). Child Care Capacity Accelerator. |
| Kansas Early Childhood Data Trust | Infrastructure Systems | Data Systems | Early Childhood Integrated Data System |
Formed in 2021, Kansas Children’s Cabinet’s Kansas Early Childhood Data Trust is an early childhood integrated data system. The system supports sharing of demographic, program, individual, and family data for early childhood programs and children receiving services from birth through age 5. The private data is shared between the Children’s Cabinet and Trust Fund, Kansas Department for Children and Families, Kansas Department of Health and Environment, Kansas State Department of Education, and Kansas Department of Corrections for specific projects through data-sharing agreements. The goal of the Trust is to improve the quality of data, maximize use of existing data, and identify needs and gaps in service delivery. The Data Trust was enacted under an agreement between the 5 state agencies in the Kansas Children’s Cabinet. The Children's Cabinet and this project receive Preschool Development Grant Renewal Funds. Learn More: Kansas Early Childhood Data TrustOther Sources: |
| Kansas Children's Initiatives Fund | Dedicated Funding Streams | Tobacco Master Settlement | In 2021, Tobacco Master Settlement funds generated $52 million to support children’s initiatives |
In 1999, Kansas established the Children's Initiatives Fund (CIF) to promote the well-being of Kansas children. CIF is sustained through Kansas’s portion of the Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement, which generated $52 million for the CIF in FY 2021. Most CIF funding is allocated to the Early Childhood Block Grant, which supports pre-K as well as care and education for children ages 0-3. Learn More: Kansas Children's Cabinet Annual Report |
Demographics Link copied!
State population
2,937,150 Source U.S. Census, 2022
Rural %
27.7% Source U.S. Census, 2020
Urban %
72.3% Source U.S. Census, 2020
Number of children age 0-4
178,147 Source KIDS COUNT, 2021
Poverty levels – children 0-8 below 200% poverty
37% Source KIDS COUNT, 2021
Median family income among households with children
$83,400.00 Source KIDS COUNT, 2021
Unemployment rate
2.9% Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, December 2022
Unemployment rate of parents
3% Source KIDS COUNT, 2021
Children under age 6 with all available parents in the labor force
72% Source KIDS COUNT, 2021
Children living in households with a high housing cost burden
30% Source KIDS COUNT, 2021
Political Landscape Link copied!
| Year | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Governor | D | D | D | D | D |
| House | R | R | R | R | R |
| Senate | R | R | R | R | R |
Early Childhood Education Programs Link copied!
Public pre-K program name
Preschool-Aged At-Risk Program Source: NIEER 2023
Public pre-K program name
Kansas Preschool Pilot (KPP) Source: NIEER 2023
Universal or targeted pre-K policy
Targeted Pre-K Policy (3- and 4-Year-Olds) Source: NIEER 2023
Universal or targeted pre-K policy
Targeted Pre-K Policy (3- and 4-Year-Olds) Source: NIEER 2023
Percent of 3-Year-Old Children Enrolled in Public Early Childhood Education Programs Source: NIEER 2023
Programs
- 3-year-old children enrolled in state-funded public pre-K (18%)
- 3-year-old children enrolled in Head Start (6%)
- Other/none (76%)
Percent of 4-Year-Old Children Enrolled in Public Early Childhood Education Programs Source: NIEER 2023
Programs
- 4-year-old children enrolled in state-funded public pre-K (42%)
- 4-year-old children enrolled in Head Start (7%)
- Other/none (51%)
Workforce Link copied!
2017–2019 Median Hourly Wages Source CSCCE 2018, 2020
Role
- Child care workers
- Preschool teachers
- Preschool or child care center directors
Funding Sources Link copied!
Funding acronyms: CCDBG: Child Care and Development Block Grant; CARES Act: Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act; CRRSE Act: Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations; ARPA: American Rescue Plan Act; CCDF: Child Care and Development Fund; MIECHV: Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program; IDEA: Individuals with Disabilities Education Act; TANF: Temporary Assistance for Needy Families
The COVID Funding Cliff
All federal COVID relief allocations, including funding authorized by the CARES, CRRSE, and ARPA bills, must be fully spent by September 2024. An analysis from the Century Foundation shows this loss of funds could cause more than 3 million children to lose access to child care nationwide – including more than 45,000 children in Kansas.