Mary Lee Johnston Community Learning Center is an amazing childcare center in Columbia, MO.  This center is a non-profit with a sliding fee scale that works with our most at-risk families in the community.

As of March 19, 2020, it is my understanding that 33 families and 40 children will no longer have childcare due to their subsidies being canceled by the Missouri Department of Social Services.  The Department of Social Services is terminating the subsidies contract with Mary Lee Johnston Community Learning Center as the Department of Health and Senior Services has proposed revocation of the license due to supervision issues.  Mary Lee Johnston Community Learning Center is appealing the license termination as all corrective actions recommended by DHSS were implemented after each occurrence.  All safety issues have been self-reported as the MLJCLC staff has the highest integrity and regard for safety. 

We ask that the subsidies contract remain in place during this appeal process.  MLJCLC is highly valued in our community. Our children thrive in this setting where they are safe, where they learn, and grow with their peers.  Supervision issues did occur but we know that the administration has strengthened security procedures and no parent has removed their child from the center due to security because parents know that children safety is an important focus for the staff and administration.

Affordable high-quality childcare is difficult to find in Columbia.  This institution is one of two centers that services the most vulnerable population and to remove it would be detrimental. This petition asks that the regulatory agencies to reconsider the termination of the state subsidy contract and the proposed revocation of the license for MLJCLC.