Research has shown that the first five years play an enormous role in a child’s ongoing development and future success. Since most kids are in a child care or preschool setting while their parents are at work, it’s critical that we invest in a high-quality early education system that provides the experiences kids need for healthy development.
The Department of Public Instruction (DPI) has announced that, with the addition of four more communities, 97.6% of Wisconsin school districts offer four-year-old kindergarten (4K). Enrollment for 2016-17 is at a high of 48,764 students in 401 school districts throughout the state. For more information, click the link below for the DPI...
WCCF has analyzed Governor Walker’s key budget proposals for early care, described in a two-page summary HERE Below are some highlights: Increase in the Wisconsin Shares Child Care Subsidy budget The proposed child care subsidy budget includes an increase from the 2016-17 base of $8.5 million in year one and $27.5 million in year two. ...
Nobel Laureate Economist James Heckman and venture capitalist J.B. Pritzker agree that solid gains come when quality child care is linked to quality preschool, according to a post from the University of Chicago, Combining Quality Child Care and Preschool. Here’s a paragraph from the post: “Greater access to child care frees parents —...
Soon after very positive findings from North Carolina’s investments in quality early care and education were highlighted in a recent blog, https://kidsforward.org/north-carolina-early-childhood-investment-pays-off/, Michigan is getting major attention with its Great Start Readiness Program (GSRP). The program is particularly focused on...
In late January Governor Walker recommended a policy that allows working families receiving Wisconsin Shares subsidies to continue on the subsidy program beyond the current income threshold which is 200 percent of the poverty level. In a press release, the Governor indicated that when families meet the 200% of poverty cliff ($40,230 for...
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