KC Reporter

Governor Mike Kehoe has announced the release of the Executive Order 25-15 Implementation Report, which outlines steps to update Missouri’s child care licensing system. The report aims to reduce outdated or duplicative regulations while maintaining safety and quality standards for children.

"Missouri families deserve safe, reliable child care, and providers deserve a licensing system that is clear, practical, and efficient," said Governor Kehoe. "This report is a strong first step, but we know there is much more work to be done, which we expect to be done at business speed. Improving licensing is just one piece of the puzzle when it comes to addressing Missouri's child care crisis, and we will continue to push forward until families have the access and options they need."

The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) conducted a review of over 1,400 child care licensing rules as directed by Governor Kehoe’s executive order from his first State of the State Address in January. The department identified 177 requirements—over 10 percent—that are considered outdated or unnecessary. Removing these would lower family child care home requirements by 11.6 percent and child care center requirements by 12.17 percent, surpassing the governor’s goal of reducing regulations by at least 10 percent.

The review also showed that more than half of all licensing rules are repeated across different types of facilities such as family homes, group homes, and centers. In response, DESE plans to consolidate rules into a single book that clearly states general requirements for all providers while distinguishing those specific to each type of facility. There will also be a separate set of rules created for school-age-only programs.

"This review is an opportunity to modernize child care licensing in Missouri, and I'd like to thank our stakeholders for their hard work in helping us identify areas for improvement," said Commissioner Karla Eslinger from DESE. "We've made important progress, but this is only the beginning. Families, providers, DESE, and legislators must continue working together to address the child care shortage and build a stronger system for the future."

According to officials, implementing Executive Order 25-15 shows Missouri’s commitment to easing regulatory burdens on providers while supporting working families and preparing long-term solutions. DESE will now begin revising state child care licensing rules through formal processes.

More information about child care licensing can be found on the state’s official website.