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Missouri Grapples With Children Living in Poverty

The leader of a Jefferson City daycare says she hasn't seen any evidence of a downturn in the number of Missouri children living in poverty.

Studies show about 261,000 children living in poverty in the state. Little Explorers Discovery Center's Executive Director Donna Scheidt says she hasn't seen much of a change in her more than 36 years working at the daycare.

Scheidt tells the Jefferson City News-Tribune that many parents of children at her center live paycheck to paycheck.

Data from coalition group Missourians to End Poverty shows that about 14% of Missouri residents were living at or below the federal poverty level last year, while more than 19% of Missouri children live in poverty.

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