Seventeen pre-K classes in the Springfield School District are free of charge to the parents. But, across the state, most parents have to foot the bill themselves if they want their child in pre-K, something many other states have eliminated.

In Springfield, 255 students are taking pre-kindergarten classes, with just as many on a waiting list to get in. Teachers here say, with few state dollars dedicated to preschool classes, it will likely end up costing more money down the road.

"Every dollar they put into early childhood education matters, since so many people want to look at standardized testing. If we look at these kids in third grade, I bet they did better," said Early Childhood Educator Missy Riley.

Parents who want help determining where children are academically and whether they're where they should be can call Parents as Teachers, a program in which trained professionals go into homes and help parents find that out. You can call to set up a FREE appointment at (417) 523-1160 in Springfield. Most districts offer this program.