State invests $977K in Niangua’s early childhood efforts

The Missouri Department of Economic Development is investing nearly $1 million to help the Niangua R-5 School District improve its early childhood efforts.

The $977,000 Community Development Block grant would allow the district to build a 5,000-square-foot early childhood education center. The school district 34 miles northeast of Springfield then would have the ability to serve 60 early childhood kids, up from its current number of 40, according to a news release.

“Early childhood education is a smart investment with a big return, and that’s why my administration has worked to make preschool more affordable and accessible throughout the state,” Gov. Jay Nixon said in the release.

The funding coming to Niangua is part of the Nixon administration’s Missouri Start Smart initiative, designed to improve early childhood and prekindergarten programs statewide. Through the program, $23.1 million in grants have been awarded to 24 projects to date. The funding is serving 2,325 young children, Nixon’s office reports.

In June, Nixon signed Senate Bill 638 to create a rating system that includes information about an early childhood center’s staff qualifications, safety standards, professional development, community involvement, quality of instruction and engagement with parents.