Kansas Office of Early Childhood

Serving Kansas Children, Families, and Early Childhood Professionals

The Kansas Office of Early Childhood (KOEC) serves as the state’s unified agency for early childhood programs and services. Created through bipartisan legislation, KOEC brings together programs that support young children, families, early childhood professionals, and communities across Kansas.

By coordinating services under one agency, KOEC helps simplify access to resources and support for families while creating stronger connections across the early childhood system. The office works to improve outcomes for young children by promoting high-quality early learning experiences, supporting child care availability, and strengthening family support services.

KOEC oversees a range of early childhood programs, including child care licensing, child care assistance programs, home visitation services, and the Kansas Children’s Cabinet and Trust Fund. Bringing these programs together allows the state to better align policies, services, and resources to meet the needs of Kansas children and families.

The office is responsible for leading Kansas’ early childhood strategy and collaborating with families, providers, educators, businesses, community organizations, and policymakers to expand access to high-quality care and education opportunities statewide.

Through this work, KOEC is committed to ensuring that Kansas families can more easily find the services they need and that young children have the opportunity to learn, grow, and thrive from the very beginning.