Updates

ST. LOUIS (February 25, 2026) — Best Start for Kids STL, a coalition of child care providers, parents, advocates, faith leaders, and business and community leaders, has begun collecting signatures to place a measure on the November 2026 ballot that would create a dedicated $22 million local funding stream to provide sliding-scale child care subsidies for families, reducing out-of-pocket costs, and deliver foundational grants to child care providers to increase educator wages and benefits, improve program quality, and stabilize child care across the City of St. Louis for children ages 5 and below.

Broad support:
The Best Start 4 Kids STL coalition, made up of over 100 organizations and regional leaders, gathered over 1,000 petitions in just the first week. Together, the coalition aims to confront a child care crisis that is forcing families out of the workforce, underpaying educators, and costing the local economy hundreds of millions of dollars each year.

This campaign launched after a regional data and implementation planning process facilitated throughout 2025 that consisted of over 12+ meetings for input and discussion, convened 59 community leaders, and engaged four national consulting groups to understand the gaps in access, the true cost of care, and then develop a responsive set of actions that ultimately shaped the policy of this ballot measure campaign. The data and implementation planning process was co-chaired by Dr. Jason Purnell of the James. S. McDonnell Foundation and Dr. Kelvin Adams of the St. Louis Community Foundation.

“This is one of the smartest investments a city can make,” said Anthony “Tony” Thompson, Chairman and CEO of Kwame Building Group. “Early childhood education is one of the most well-documented economic drivers available to us, with measurable returns tied to workforce participation, public safety, and even has the potential to stabilize or grow our population. If we are serious about closing racial gaps in income, health, and opportunity, we have to start early.”

“Early childhood education is one of the most effective tools St. Louis has to address public safety, poverty, and population loss,” said Tom Oldenburg, Alderman of the 2nd Ward, City of St. Louis. “Child care is a significant burden for families in every corner of our city and at every income level. If we are serious about addressing the challenges we face, investing in early childhood is a clear and responsible step forward.”

Clear crisis:
As it stands, the region is failing to serve the majority of children who need access to publicly funded early childhood options most. Among the 29,393 children eligible for publicly funded care (living at or below 185% FPL), only 32% currently have seats in publicly funded early childhood programs. This leaves a substantial gap of 20,025 seats across the region. Specifically, in St. Louis City, there are over 6,000 children ages five or below who live in poverty and lack access to a child care seat.

“For parents like us, access to quality child care determines how much we can grow our business while still giving our kids a strong start,” said Javia Gilliam-Sanford, who owns Pour Decisions with her husband, Kaje Sanford. “Reducing the cost of child care would give families the opportunity to build a future that aligns with their dreams for themselves and their children. That is real relief for working parents, and it is why investing in child care makes sense for voters. We are proud to bring our baby to work when we can, but it should not be a necessity. Child care is a civil right.”

Moreover, the true cost of providing high-quality infant care in our region can reach $31,000 per year. Closing the gaps in access, affordability, and quality in St. Louis City alone requires an estimated $148 million in additional annual investment.

“As child care providers, we see every day how hard families are working just to keep their heads above water, and frankly, so are providers,” said Lindsey Baker, Director of Advocacy & Operations at SouthSide Early Childhood Center. “It’s extremely challenging to keep a steady workforce when most centers can’t afford to pay their staff living wages and good benefits. This initiative gives St. Louis the chance to finally invest in the educators caring for our children and in the quality of care our kids deserve. Our community is ready to do this, and we’re not waiting any longer.”

How it works:
The measure would create a stable, long-term solution that lowers child care costs for families while strengthening and sustaining the providers St. Louis relies on. The proposed charter amendment would enact a one-half-cent sales tax, generating approximately $22 million in dedicated annual funding. Revenue would be placed in a newly created St. Louis City Early Childhood Education Fund and overseen by a St. Louis City Early Childhood Education Board, with members appointed by the Mayor and approved by the Board of Aldermen.

“For generations, faith communities have stepped in where systems have fallen short for families,” said Pastor Charles Norris of St. James AME. “This campaign is about building a city that truly cares for its youngest children and the people raising them. The people of St. Louis understand the moral responsibility here, and we are choosing to act.”

The funding would support two coordinated programs designed to improve affordability, quality, and access to early childhood education. Local subsidies for families would reduce the cost of child care on a sliding scale based on household income, while foundational funding grants for providers would support higher wages and benefits for educators, strengthen program quality, and stabilize the child care system.

More than 6,000 children lack access to early care and education. Many moderate-income families are also priced out of available options. Supporters say investing locally in early childhood education produces broad public benefits. When families can access dependable care, parents are better able to stay in the workforce, businesses see reduced turnover and absenteeism, and children enter school better prepared to succeed.

Getting involved:
The campaign is collecting signatures during the qualification period and aims to submit approximately 30,000 raw signatures by early May to place the measure on the November 2026 ballot. Organizers say the path forward is clear and are calling on St. Louis residents to sign the petition, encouraging the business community to invest in the campaign and help carry this community-led effort across the finish line.

Supporters note that child care in St. Louis has long depended on underpaid labor and informal support, particularly from women, and say this measure is about finally valuing that work and making it sustainable.

The campaign kicks off on Saturday, February 28, at 12 PM. For more details, RSVP here. 

For more information, to donate, or to register as a volunteer, visit beststart4kidsstl.org.

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Best Start for Kids STL is a citizen-led coalition working to secure local, sustainable public funding to ensure children in St. Louis get the best possible start in life.

Paid for by Best Start for Kids STL, Lisa Scheer, Treasurer.

 

CONTACT LINDSAY PATTAN at LINDSAY@PATTAN.CO
for more information, or to schedule interviews.

MEDIA KIT