RAPID CITY, S.D. (KOTA) – A team of childcare devotees is looking to change the state of in South Dakota.

A childcare task force made up of business leaders, early childhood professionals, lawmakers, and parents was created by State Senator Tim Reed of Brookings in December 2023 to help address the lack of available and affordable childcare in the state. Last month, the group held their first meeting in Brookings to try and find solutions to the issues plaguing childcare.

Their goals are to look for any funding inefficiencies from the federal to the state level. They also want to see if there are ways to redirect those funds and bring together stakeholders from early education and advocacy groups to get a better understanding of the issues.

Early Learner South Dakota Director Kayla Klein says there is a primary problem hurting childcare.

”Childcare providers are going to be stuck in this position where they’re gonna have to start raising their costs, because that’s the only way that childcare providers get money is directly from parent fees. Parents already are having a hard time affording childcare fees,” said Klein.

Klein added she doesn’t believe childcare is a sustainable business model and may be the only for-profit business that is expected to fundraise.

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Copyright 2024 KOTA. All rights reserved.

RAPID CITY, S.D. (KEVN) – A team of childcare devotees is looking to change the state of in South Dakota.

A childcare task force made up of business leaders, early childhood professionals, lawmakers, and parents was created by State Senator Tim Reed of Brookings in December 2023 to help address the lack of available and affordable childcare in the state. Last month, the group held their first meeting in Brookings to try and find solutions to the issues plaguing childcare.

Their goals are to look for any funding inefficiencies from the federal to the state level. They also want to see if there are ways to redirect those funds and bring together stakeholders from early education and advocacy groups to get a better understanding of the issues.

Early Learner South Dakota Director Kayla Klein says there is a primary problem hurting childcare.

“Childcare providers are going to be stuck in this position where they’re gonna have to start raising their costs, because that’s the only way that childcare providers get money is directly from parent fees. Parents already are having a hard time affording childcare fees,” said Klein.

Klein added she doesn’t believe childcare is a sustainable business model and may be the only for-profit business that is expected to fundraise.

” Childcare providers are going to be stuck in this position where they’re gonna have to start raising their costs, because that’s the only way that childcare providers get money is directly from parent fees. Parents already are having a hard time affording childcare fees,” said Klein.

Klein added she doesn’t believe childcare is a sustainable business model and may be the only for-profit business that is expected to fundraise.

See a spelling or grammatical error in our story? Please click here to report it.

Do you have a photo or video of a breaking news story? Send it to us here with a brief description.

Copyright 2024 KEVN. All rights reserved.

BROOKINGS, SD (KVRR) – The University of North Dakota Fighting Hawks’ season ended after falling in extra innings to South Dakota in the first round of Summit League tournament, losing 6-5. UND battled back from a three-run deficit to tie it up in the seventh frame, but the Coyotes scored the final run in the bottom of the 10th.

Jackie Albrecht, who was named to the all-conference second team, pitched 9.1 innings and gave up 11 hits. Brooklyn Morris chipped in two hits and two RBIs for UND.

The first round of the Summit League tournament is single elimination.