Parson Calls For Higher Teacher Pay and Better Child Care Access in State of the State Address

Thursday, January 20, 2022 at 4:27 AM

Missouri Governor Mike Parson is calling for higher teacher pay and money to increase access for child care.

Parson outlined some of the ways he wants to spend nearly $2.8 billion in federal COVID-19 aid during his State of the State address on Wednesday.

Parson is asking the GOP-led Legislature for $722 million to prop up child-care centers. He wants another $22 million for matching grants to increase teacher pay to a minimum of $38,000 a year.

Parson also lauded the state’s coronavirus vaccination rate. About 73% of adults have received at least one dose, and 55% of Missouri’s total population is fully vaccinated.

Click here to see the complete speech by Governor Mike Parson.

(Story from Ozarks First/Associated Press)

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