Leaders in Kansas and Missouri recognize the direct link between economic prosperity and competitiveness and the success and quality of our early childhood systems. This week, we've observed substantial progress in early childhood initiatives across both states.

This week at the Missouri State Capitol, Representative Brenda Shields, a longtime champion of early education and former business leader, led a coalition of nearly a dozen respected statewide organizations to present HB 1486, which would remove the cap on Pre-K funding for 4-year-olds and expand a voluntary opportunity for children classified as "low-income", meaning they qualify for free- and reduced lunch (FRL).