Progress KC

03/15/2019

Early learning programs are critical to the health and success of Kansas City and its’ economy. Every child deserves equal access to affordable, developmentally appropriate, high quality early learning facilities.

Research shows that with improvements to facilities, early childhood educators increase the quantity of quality adult child interaction. Facilities considerations like placement of bathrooms, storage, and telephones can mean significantly less disruption to classroom time. Programs that have made facilities improvements have also found that the increase in quality facilities have seen a correlation between children’s behaviors and staff morale, ultimately decreasing staff turnover.

20% of revenue generated from the Pre-K for KC tax will be spent on increasing quality facilities in areas of highest need each year.

Learn more about the benefit to investing in pre-K facilities here:
http://www.modeldmedia.com/features/IFF-special-report-080717.aspx

03/15/2019

Kindergarten starts for most children after they turn 5 years old, yet 90% of a child's brain development occurs before age 5. We need high-quality early learning programs for all of KC's four-year olds, so that we are stimulating their development at a critical time.
At a time when too many children enter the public schools in Kansas City behind both academically and emotionally, high-quality early learning programs are a proven way to ensure that students start school ready to learn.

Read more about the importance of early brain development here: https://www.firstthingsfirst.org/early-childhood-matters/brain-development/

03/14/2019

“Early learning programs are also cheaper than the millions of dollars taxpayers spend on prisons that are filling up with high school dropouts, many of whom could have avoided that fate with the help that early learning programs could have provided.

But this is also about empowering women. The more we can help families send their 4-year-olds to quality pre-K, the more mothers will have the ability to determine and pursue their own professional paths. Knowing they can afford to enroll their children in a quality pre-K program during the day can help women, especially women of color, increase their economic independence by enabling them to participate more actively and intentionally in the workforce.” --Joni Wickham, chief of staff for the office of Kansas City Mayor Sly James

Read more here: https://www.kansascity.com/opinion/readers-opinion/guest-commentary/article227252739.html?fbclid=IwAR0aWJj1UvgYvqGdvCtgN2LgvxUHJkp1B5kxQeqlgCNCFsqE1x6vLK4iIg4

03/14/2019

“Child Care Deserts” exist all across our city. This means that there are parts of town where there are more than 40 children per 1 available seat of child care. Parents are currently on long waitlists with no guarantee their child will receive a spot before Kindergarten.

Pre-K for KC will increase capacity at existing programs to be able to relieve the burden for families waiting for quality pre-K.

03/14/2019

Multiple studies show that for every dollar invested in early learning, a community saves at least $7 in reduced future education, criminal justice, and welfare costs. While the community benefits from developing a stronger, more highly-skilled workforce that will power our economy.

Read more about the economic impact of high quality pre-K here:
https://www.uschamberfoundation.org/center-education-and-workforce/graphic-business-case-high-quality-childcare

03/13/2019

Teach For America - Kansas City and Jumpstart work tirelessly everyday so one day every child enters kindergarten prepared to succeed and has the opportunity to attain an excellent education. is thankful for their endorsement.

03/11/2019

Thank you for your support for pre-K in KC!

The Pre-K for KC plan is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to make a meaningful investment in the next generation of Kansas Citians, and with your support we'll make the future brighter for our children and our city!

Citizens of the World Kansas City
Crossroads Charter Schools
Ewing Marion Kauffman School
Brookside Charter School
Academy for Integrated Arts
University Academy

03/08/2019

"At the most popular pre-K centers, there were wait lists — long ones. High-quality pre-kindergarten providers do an incredible job, but their numbers are limited. And when we finally found pre-K programs we liked, the price tag was shocking."

Tell me if this sounds familiar to you: When it was time to enroll my daughter in an early learning program, I was ready. I was getting an early start. I was ready to do my research. I was going to make calls, do site visits, read reviews — the whole nine yards.

02/25/2019

Kansas City, Missouri, Mayor Sly James is pushing hard to raise voter approval to enact a sales tax to fund a pre-K assistance program for all children in the city, but the proposal faces opposition from school leaders among others.

02/18/2019

Remember to vote YES on Pre-K for KC on April 2!”

: https://bit.ly/2Ikgtib

02/16/2019

At a time when 50% of children enter the public schools in Kansas City behind both academically and emotionally, high-quality pre-K is a proven way to ensure that students start school ready to learn.
Vote YES on Question 1 on April 2! : https://bit.ly/2Ikgtib

02/14/2019

Kindergarten starts for most kids after they turn 5, yet 90% of a child's brain development occurs before age 5. We need high-quality early learning programs for all of KC's 4-year olds, so that we are stimulating their development at a critical time.

Vote YES on Question 1 on April 2! : https://bit.ly/2Ikgtib