The State of Kansas (State), Department for Children and Families (DCF) engaged Mercer Government Human Services Consulting (Mercer) to conduct a study of market rates for child care services in the State. This study is a federally mandated bi-annual analysis of market rates, designed to assist DCF in determining whether current DCF child care subsidy rates are at a level such that families receiving these subsidies have similar purchasing power to private pay families. This study is based on an analysis of data maintained and supplied by Child Care Aware of Kansas (CCAKS) database. The database contains information on all regulated child care facilities in Kansas, including child care rates and hours of operation by provider type and age of child. The database also contains information on provider accreditation and professional development requirements, which were used as part of this analysis. These data represent rate information collected for the period of January 1, 2012 to December 31, 2012. Mercer has used and relied upon the data from the CCAKS database. In addition, Mercer received actual child care benefit data covering the time period of June 2012 through August 2012 from DCF to complete the 'Family Share Comparison' presented below. While Mercer reviewed these data and information for reasonableness, we did not audit them and are not responsible for incomplete or inaccurate data provided by the State. If data supplied in the CCAKS database or provided by DCF are inaccurate or incomplete, the values shown in this report may need to be revised accordingly. (author abstract)