WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Representative Jason Smith (Mo.) released a letter he sent calling on Delta Area Economic Opportunity Corporation President and CEO Joel Evans to reopen the Bell City and East Prairie Head Start facilities. The shuttering of these facilities has left a significant number of children and families without access to early childhood education, nutritional support, and development services.

“These locations operate in the heart of the state’s most vulnerable populations and closure leaves significant gaps in access to educational resources for these rural communities. Parents will now have to make the difficult decision of either driving farther to access another Head Start facility, seeking alternative, more costly childcare, or forgoing a second income so one parent can stay home with their children. In addition, there are now fewer resources available to children in the community with special needs. … Making sure children in rural areas have access to quality, affordable education is a top priority for me. I urge you to do what’s right for them – and their hardworking families – and reopen these essential facilities as soon as possible,” Smith wrote in the letter.

Following is a copy of the letter:

Joel Evans
President, CEO
Delta Area Economic Opportunity Corporation (DAECO)
104 W Center St
Sikeston, MO 63801

Mr. Evans,

I write today in strong opposition to the recent closure of two Head Start programs in Southeast Missouri. The Bell City and East Prairie locations serve some of the most rural and economically underserved communities in Missouri. Closure leaves a significant number of children and families without access to early childhood education, nutritional support, and developmental services.

Federal funding is awarded to the state each year with the purpose of ensuring access to early childhood education for underserved communities. These locations operate in the heart of the state’s most vulnerable populations and closure leaves significant gaps in access to educational resources for these rural communities. Parents will now have to make the difficult decision of either driving farther to access another Head Start facility, seeking alternative, more costly childcare, or forgoing a second income so one parent can stay home with their children. In addition, there are now fewer resources available to children in the community with special needs. In every case, the removal of choice, affordability and flexibility harms families and disadvantages children.

Parents and elected officials from these communities have rallied in support of these centers and have called on DAECO to find solutions and reverse this costly decision. Without access to these programs, the most vulnerable in our communities will miss out on essential early childhood developmental opportunities and likely fall further behind their peers.

Making sure children in rural areas have access to quality, affordable education is a top priority for me. I urge you to do what’s right for them – and their hardworking families – and reopen these essential facilities as soon as possible.