Early Child Care & Education Program

Growing and Learning, One Milestone at a Time.

Our Program

DCO’s Early Child Care and Education (ECCE) Program is a nationally accredited program. The program was licensed by the Bureau of Child Care Licensing in 1991 to provide childcare services for children with and without developmental disabilities. The ECCE program is a vendor for the Children’s Division.

The Early Child Care and Education Program offers a daily classroom setting for infants and children six weeks through six years who require specialized programs and therapies and children who do not. We use a developmental model in our classroom instruction to offer a wide variety of activities, including language stimulation, motor development, self-help skill development, learning centers and play activities. All of our trained staff are supervised by a professional coordinator with a degree in the field.

Program Features

Trained Experienced Staff
Structured Classroom Instruction
Developmental Screening & Updates
Video Cameras in Each Classroom
Individual Therapy as Needed
Support & Assistance with School Referrals
Library Loan of Books, Articles & Tapes
Inside Activity Space for Inclement Weather

Electronic Door with Authorized Entry
Breakfast, Lunch, and Afternoon Snacks Are Provided Daily
Milk and Soy-Based Formula Provided
Stage One and Stage Two Baby Food Provided
Outside Restrooms and Water for the Playground
Resilient Surfacing on the Playground
Full-time Nurse on Staff
Splash Pad for Water Play (1 year and older)
Putting Green (for older toddlers and kindergarten-ready classes)

Skills such as a baby’s first steps and smile are examples of developmental milestones. You can learn more about these landmark actions by age on the CDC’s Developmental Milestone checklist.

Review the milestones here.

Who Is This Program For?

Classroom placement is available for children six weeks through six years. Children are assigned to classrooms based on chronological age. Children with behavioral, medical or physical needs will be enrolled on a trial basis with an individualized plan developed. Regular classroom enrollment will be approved when appropriate if the classroom environment meets the needs of the child.

Program Cost

Enrollment: $25 per child*

6 weeks – 2 years: $270/week $80/daily (includes formula with iron or soy-based formula and baby food)

2 years – 3 years: $210/week $70/daily
3 years – 6 years: $200/week $65/daily

Rates effective Monday, January 6, 2025.

*This fee is nonrefundable and due at the time you’re ready to commit to our center for any openings. This is to assist in better addressing the needs of our openings and best plan for your child’s care.

Late Pickup Fee: $20 minimum/+$1/min after 5 minutes

We are a fee-for-service program, so it is important that we receive timely payment for your child’s/children’s care.

If you are employed by DCO and are the legal guardian of a child living within your home, you may be eligible for a discount of $50/week or $10/day.

Waitlist: If there are currently no openings for the age group your family needs, we can take your information, but it is your responsibility to call prior to six months of being added to the waitlist, indicating you’d like to remain on our list if an opening occurs. For example, if you were added in January and no opening had occurred, but you wanted to stay on the list, you would need to contact us before July.

I love DCO and my kids love DCO.

Karen Oldham

Contact Us

Have questions about our Early Child Care and Education program? Don’t hesitate to call one of our team members or send a form on our contact page. You can also visit the Missouri Department of Social Services Child Care page for more information on finding a child care program in your area.

Admission to any DCO program, service or staff position will not be denied due to race, religion, color, sex, age, national origin, ancestry, creed, sexual orientation, military status or disability.