Thank you for participating in Missouri's Child Care Market Rate Survey (MRS).
Every three years, Missouri conducts this federally required survey to better understand the rates child care providers charge and the costs involved in providing child care services across the state. The information collected through this survey will help inform child care subsidy rates and policies.
Your response is important because child care rates and operating costs can vary by county, provider type, program size, staffing needs, and the ages of children served. By completing the survey, you help ensure that your program’s rates and costs are represented when Missouri makes policy decisions that affect child care providers and families.
The survey asks about child care rates, enrollment, staffing, wages, revenue, and expenses to provide a clearer picture of the costs of providing child care, which can vary across Missouri. Your program’s individual information will not be identified in the publicly available final report. Survey results will be reported as a combined summary of information collected for each county and statewide.
The person completing the survey should be familiar with the program's rates, enrollment, revenue, expenses, and staffing. Please have bookkeeping and payroll information available before you begin. If your organization operates in more than one location, please complete a separate survey for each Department Vendor Number (DVN).
Participation in this survey is voluntary. Choosing not to participate will not affect your ability to provide child care services. However, your responses help make sure provider rates and costs in your county are included when child care policies are reviewed.
Programs that complete all survey sections will be entered into a drawing for a chance to win a $100 gift card. Limit one entry per program.
Estimated time to complete the survey: 20-40 minutes depending on your type of program, number of staff, and the age groups you serve.
The survey will be open from September 21, 2026 to November 6, 2026.
If you need help completing the survey, or cannot respond online, please contact us at: MOChildCareMarketRateStudy@pcgus.com or (573) 207-3177.