Office of Governor
TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly has announced that the Early Childhood Transition Task Force will embark on a statewide community engagement tour June 27-30, including a stop in Hays, to discuss the challenges communities face in supporting children through their earliest years.
The task force, created by Governor Kelly’s first executive order of her second term, is charged with reviewing Kansas’ early childhood care and education system and with developing a roadmap for creating a cabinet-level agency dedicated to supporting our youngest Kansans.
“If we want to give our kids the best possible future, then we must give them the strongest possible start. That’s why I started my second term by taking a step to expand access to childcare and early childhood development programs,” said Governor Kelly. “Now, we want to hear from Kansans about what my administration and our partners can do to put Kansas on the path to having the most comprehensive, robust early childhood system in the country.”
The Task Force will visit nine cities across the state to discuss successes and challenges affecting the early childhood sectors in each community.
These meetings are open to the public. Families, service and care providers, community leaders, and business representatives are encouraged to attend.
Participants will engage in facilitated discussions designed to generate feedback on how the state is administering early childhood programs and how Kansans interact with the state’s governance system.
Each meeting will be conducted with the assistance of The Hunt Institute, which has been providing support to the Task Force’s work.
The Hays meeting is scheduled for 2 p.m. Wed., June 28, at the Rockwell Administration Center, 323 W. 12th.
Other meetings are scheduled in Chanute, Wichita, Garden City, Salina, Manhattan, Topeka, Overland Park, and Kansas City.