Parents and daycare providers in Wisconsin are breathing a sigh of relief after Governor Evers and Republican lawmakers reached a deal on child care funding. The agreement comes after months of uncertainty as the previous funding program that expired on July 1.
"Not trying to figure out where another $50, $100 a month is going is a huge relief as well," said Angela Lenz, a Waukesha mom.
Lenz had been actively reaching out to elected officials about the issue, concerned about potential rate increases at her child's daycare.
"I have sent emails and letters and left a voicemail but I have not heard back," Lenz said.
Watch: Day care parents, providers relieved Wisconsin budget includes child care funding:
When her attempts to contact officials went unanswered, she reached out to TMJ4 to help amplify her concerns. Her story reflects what many parents across the community have been experiencing as they worried about affording quality child care.
The new agreement uses $110 million in COVID-19 interest to continue payments that had previously kept day cares open and provided teacher raises and training. It also sets aside $66 million for providers who prepare children for school.
Heather Butkiewicz, a Brookfield daycare owner, sees the funding as a positive step forward.
"I am excited that for the first time early education was put into the budget. So that is a plus," Butkiewicz said.
State Capitol, Madison, Wisconsin. (Photo by: Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
The budget breakdown for child care funding includes:
- $110 million for the Department of Children and Families to make direct "bridge payments" to providers
- $66 million to fund 4K programs at child care centers
- $2 million for a competitive grant program to help child care centers shrink their wait lists and increase available slots
- Allowing workers 16 years and older to count as "assistant child care teachers"
- Loosening child care ratios under a two-year pilot program
While questions remain about how the money will be distributed, both parents and providers TMJ4 spoke with consider this a win after months of advocacy.
"What tells me is people out there and parents need to keep advocating and be an advocate. Because that is what really made the difference, I think," Butkiewicz said.
Lenz echoed this sentiment, encouraging others to speak up about issues affecting their families.
"Don't just stop at one person, continue reaching out until you find someone who will listen to you," Lenz said.
As we continue to follow this story, we'll be monitoring how these funds are distributed and the impact on families throughout Waukesha County. We're committed to bringing you updates as we learn more about implementation timelines and how providers plan to use these resources.
This story was reported by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.
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