Cape News

Today, U.S. Representative Jason Smith from Missouri has addressed a letter to Joel Evans, President and CEO of the Delta Area Economic Opportunity Corporation (DAECO), urging the reopening of Head Start facilities in Bell City and East Prairie. The closure of these centers has affected many children and families by limiting access to early childhood education, nutritional support, and developmental 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," Smith stated in his letter. He highlighted that parents are now faced with challenging choices such as traveling longer distances to other Head Start facilities, seeking more expensive childcare alternatives, or having one parent stay home, thereby losing a second income.

Smith emphasized the importance of ensuring that children in rural areas have access to quality education. "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,” he wrote.

The letter also noted that federal funding is allocated annually to ensure early childhood education for underserved communities. Smith expressed concern about the impact on children with special needs due to reduced resources available following the closures.

Local parents and officials have rallied against this decision, calling on DAECO to reconsider. They argue that without these programs, vulnerable community members will miss crucial developmental opportunities.

Smith's call for action underscores his commitment to addressing educational disparities in rural Missouri communities.