Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, Office of Childhood

Child Care Facility License

Licensing moved to the education department's Office of Childhood, and the licensed-versus-exempt line is drawn precisely rather than loosely: a person caring for six or fewer children, including at most three under two, at the same address is outside licensing altogether, and a substantial religious carve-out covers academic preschools and kindergartens for four- and five-year-olds, Sunday and Sabbath schools, vacation bible schools, religious elementary and secondary schools, and any facility under the exclusive control of a religious organisation. That exemption has one hard limit written into the same statute: no facility is exempt if it receives state or federal funding, aside from the child and adult care food programme. The agency's own 'Start a Child Care Program' guidance page states no application fee and does not say the application is free, so no fee is recorded here; confirm the amount directly with the agency at (573) 751-4212.