MADISON, WIS. – Raising Wisconsin is pleased child care programs will receive one more year of direct payments and the child care sector will receive a first-time, historic investment of state revenue in the 2025-27 state budget.
The bipartisan agreement reached Tuesday between Gov. Tony Evers and state legislative leadership includes $110 million in federal dollars for ongoing direct payments to child care programs through June 30, 2026, and a first-time investment of $65 million in state general purpose revenue to create a new program focused on elementary school readiness for 4-year-olds in child care.
The Raising Wisconsin coalition had been advocating for a significant GPR investment of $480 million over the biennium to continue what had been known as the Child Care Counts Program that provided direct monthly payments to child care programs. While the budget does not include that, it does make progress toward larger investments in the long term.
“This is a clear sign the advocacy efforts of the coalition were heard,” said Ruth Schmidt, executive director of Wisconsin Early Childhood Association, which helps lead Raising Wisconsin. “Getting a first-time investment of GPR and ensuring providers have one more year of support through direct payments is incredibly important for providers, families, and communities all across this state. It wasn’t everything, but it was an important step that will be a foundation for the future.”
The budget, which is expected to be adopted and signed this week, also includes an increase in the Wisconsin Shares Subsidy Program payment rate, which will give eligible parents more buying power at a time when family budgets are strained by increasing household expenses.
This year’s advocacy efforts expanded the spotlight on child care and included a record-setting Child Care Advocacy Day, which was co-sponsored by Raising Wisconsin, WECA and Wisconsin Head Start Association. Parents, providers, business leaders, and community members took action, including phone calls, letters, and hosting local events.
“People from all across Wisconsin – whether they have children or not – increasingly recognize how important investment in child care is for the social and economic health of providers, children, families, and communities,” said Dana Schmock, Raising Wisconsin’s coordinator.
