DESE funds Little Learners free full-day preschool

Little Learners Spectrum Center—a Farmington-based nonprofit child care provider serving infants through preschoolers—is blazing new trails this school year.

For the first time ever, DESE (Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education) has awarded Little Learners funding to support 40 full-day, tuition-free preschool spots. The grant comes through Missouri’s Quality Pre-K (MO Quality Pre-K) initiative, which extends preschool funding to licensed child-care centers committed to high-quality programs.

“This is the first full-day free preschool in our community,” says owner and operator Ashley Smith. “We’ve been dreaming of it since day one.”

Smith said that for as long as she can recall, the Farmington district has only offered part-day preschool, leaving working families without the support they truly need. When Little Learners Spectrum Center opened its doors three years ago, she felt the mission was clear: to advocate for funding and bring quality, affordable care to our community.

She explained that economic challenges create steep obstacles in providing the kind of educational and support opportunities she envisioned. The funding available barely covers tuition costs and often falls short of supporting the salaries needed to attract certified, high-quality teachers. The tuition funding covers only the classroom seats, and the nonprofit continues to rely on community support to pay certified teachers and sustain its inclusive, intentional care model.

“Public schools have access to additional funding streams like Title I—nonprofits like ours do not. Still, we knew we had to do this for the families in our area. With the cost of childcare now surpassing college tuition in many places, something had to change,” she said.

“Over the last three years, we’ve worked tirelessly to raise money, build strong community partnerships, and advocate for the expansion of early childhood education. This new full-day program is a direct result of that commitment. The first children to enroll will be those who have grown with us through our infant and toddler programs. But we still have more openings available, and we invite all interested families to tour our school and apply.”

She explained the importance of a full-day program. “Kids in full-day programs do better across the board—socially, emotionally, and academically. They’re more ready for kindergarten, more confident, and more connected. It’s not just more time—it’s more opportunity. Full-day preschoolers show bigger gains in reading, math, and emotional skills than those in part-day programs.

Founded three years ago, Little Learners launched with a mission to serve families who need affordable, quality care—and especially children with unique needs. Their website outlines programs for ages 0 to 5, focused on early learning in a nurturing academy setting. An after-school program is also available, and the center accepts the Missouri Childcare Subsidy.

DESE’s MO Quality Pre-K Grants (MOQPK) are designed to expand access to high-quality preschool across the state, including through licensed child-care providers like Little Learners. This is part of a broader DESE effort to strengthen early learning opportunities for Missouri children.

As they continue accepting applications in August, Little Learners encourages families to attend a school tour and submit a short paragraph explaining why they need quality, affordable care. The center emphasizes there’s no income requirement—help is for any family struggling with skyrocketing childcare costs.

“We simply ask families to write a short paragraph on why their child needs access to high-quality care. If demand exceeds available spots, we’re prepared to expand the program in future years to reach even more families,” Smith said.

If demand stays high, they hope to grow the program again next year. For now, these 40 full-day spots offer a lifeline to families—and a model for how nonprofit providers can step into the preschool space with creative, community-backed solutions.

Smith said there is room for the community’s support to continue the solutions. “This is still a call to action—for our large corporations, local businesses, and community members to partner with us. Your support helps us grow this program, serve more families, and change the future of Farmington and the surrounding towns. Visit our website to see the difference we’re making and donate today to help us build a brighter, more equitable future for our children. Together, we’re not just growing a program—we’re growing a better city.”

The center, located at 101 Hyler Dr., was licensed in February 2025 with a capacity for 149 children, operates weekdays from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., and includes wrap-around care from 6:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. For more information about Little Learners or the application process through this special program, call 573-218-9428.

Lisa Brotherton-Barnes is a Daily Journal and Farmington Press staff writer. She can be reached at lbarnes@dailyjournalonline.com.