Join other community members to share our experiences with childcare & public education, why we need to invest in both now, and what our state legislators can do to make childcare affordable & public schools thriving places of joy for all!

4-6pm (Doors open 3:30pm, Presentation begins at 4pm followed by Q&A)

‍

Current child care funding falls drastically short of what is needed to prevent total collapse of the care system in Wisconsin.  Parents (mainly women) are leaving the workforce in large numbers due to rising costs which are not sustainable for families.  Early childhood educators are not paid a liveable wage.  Child care providers are forced to close due to rising operational costs.  Our economy cannot afford to wait without proper action and solutions.

The 2025-2027 biennial budget that was passed only included $110 million in direct payments to providers and only for 1 year, less than 25% of what was originally proposed ($480 million) and supported by Governor Evers.  Governor Evers initially stated he would veto the budget if it didn’t include stabilization payments to providers.

Democratic lawmakers have introduced a bill (SB-322/AB-317) to bring back Child Care Counts and fund the program through the end of the current budget cycle in 2027 ($442 million). The proposal would increase monthly payments to providers. In the Republican controlled legislature, the bill has not received a public hearing.  Rep. Andrew Hysell (AD-48) will attend the community meeting to educate the public on the legislative process.  He has co-authored the assembly bill that our Wisconsin child care system desperately needs.