Growing futures: UNK launches initiative to address early childhood education shortage

KEARNEY, Neb. — A new initiative based out of UNK is the latest significant push to address Nebraska’s early childhood education woes.

According to a 2023 report from Voices for Children in Nebraska, 84 of the state’s 93 counties don’t have enough spots in licensed child care facilities to meet the potential demand. Nine counties don’t have any licensed facilities.

The Knowledge Network for Early Childhood Education Workforce hopes to change that. The program will focus on early childhood educator recruitment and retention, as well as networking and professional development.

“We’re going to bring resources to those people, we’re going to train people, we’re going to expand the opportunities for people to have childcare, especially in rural Nebraska,” UNK Assistant Vice Chancellor for Research and Creativity Dr. Kim Carlson said.

More than a dozen rural communities will be invited to participate in the multiyear project.

A Tuesday event celebrated UNK receiving $2 million from the U.S. Department of Education to fund the program. Organizers honored U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer, who sponsored the federal appropriation.

Nebraska Extension and Communities for Kids are also partners in the initiative.