Wisconsin
Overview Link copied!
Click on a result for more information.
| Strategy Name | Strategy Type(s) | Year | Funding Amount | Funding Source | Features at a Glance | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Dual Enrollment Preschool Technical Diploma
In 2021, Milwaukee launched the Dual Enrollment Preschool Technical Diploma program using $309,000 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding. The program is a partnership between local high schools, the Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC), the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development, and Next Door, a Milwaukee early education nonprofit.
Dual Enrollment Academy (DEA) participants receive college-level training to begin careers in early childhood education. In their senior year, DEA students earn both high school and college credits through in-person, virtual, and experiential learning experiences, with the goal of earning a Preschool Technical Diploma by graduation. Students pay no tuition for the program’s 18 credits, and they receive a free computer, free books, and free transportation to MATC and partner sites.
Credits earned through DEA can also be applied to MATC programs in the future, shortening the time and reducing the cost of completing a technical diploma or associate degree at MATC.
learn more: dual enrollment preschool technical diploma
Sources:
City of Milwaukee City Clerk Communications Center. (2021, October 15). Committee recommends approval of early childhood education investment.
Milwaukee Area Technical College. (n.d.). Dual Enrollment Academy for High School Seniors.
|
|
2021 | $309,000 |
American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA)
|
Dual Enrollment Academy (DEA) participants receive college-level training to begin careers in early childhood education during their senior year of high school through in-person, virtual, and experiential learning experiences
|
In 2021, Milwaukee launched the Dual Enrollment Preschool Technical Diploma program using $309,000 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding. The program is a partnership between local high schools, the Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC), the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development, and Next Door, a Milwaukee early education nonprofit.
Dual Enrollment Academy (DEA) participants receive college-level training to begin careers in early childhood education. In their senior year, DEA students earn both high school and college credits through in-person, virtual, and experiential learning experiences, with the goal of earning a Preschool Technical Diploma by graduation. Students pay no tuition for the program’s 18 credits, and they receive a free computer, free books, and free transportation to MATC and partner sites.
Credits earned through DEA can also be applied to MATC programs in the future, shortening the time and reducing the cost of completing a technical diploma or associate degree at MATC.
learn more: dual enrollment preschool technical diploma
Sources:
City of Milwaukee City Clerk Communications Center. (2021, October 15). Committee recommends approval of early childhood education investment.
Milwaukee Area Technical College. (n.d.). Dual Enrollment Academy for High School Seniors.
|
|
Early Childhood Workforce Wage Stipend Program
In November 2022, using $5.1 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding, Milwaukee created a stipend program for early childhood professionals employed in the city’s child care programs. The Milwaukee Succeeds Early Childhood Coalition initially advocated for the program, which was then facilitated by the Wisconsin Early Childhood Association.
All Milwaukee early education professionals in direct caregiving roles and employed in group or family child care programs licensed by the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families were eligible for an annual stipend of $1,500, distributed in three installments over the course of a calendar year. The program wrapped up in early 2025.
In 2023, the wage stipend program reached over 1,900 educators in Milwaukee.
learn more: early childhood workforce wage stipend program
Sources:
Milwaukee Succeeds. (2022, November). Early Educator Wage Stipend Launches in Milwaukee.
Milwaukee Succeeds. (2023, February). First Round of Early Educator Stipends Awarded.
White, A. (2022). An Equitable Recovery Starts With Early Childhood: How Cities Are Leveraging ARPA SLFRF to Support Young Children and Families. National League of Cities.
City of Milwaukee City Clerk Communications Center. (2022, December 1). Applications now being accepted for Early Childhood Workforce Stipend Program.
Wisconsin Early Childhood Association. (n.d.). City of Milwaukee Early Childhood Workforce Stipend Program.
|
|
2022 | $5.1 million |
American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA)
|
All Milwaukee early education professionals in direct caregiving roles and employed in group or family child care programs licensed by the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families were eligible for an annual stipend of $1,500
|
In November 2022, using $5.1 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding, Milwaukee created a stipend program for early childhood professionals employed in the city’s child care programs. The Milwaukee Succeeds Early Childhood Coalition initially advocated for the program, which was then facilitated by the Wisconsin Early Childhood Association.
All Milwaukee early education professionals in direct caregiving roles and employed in group or family child care programs licensed by the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families were eligible for an annual stipend of $1,500, distributed in three installments over the course of a calendar year. The program wrapped up in early 2025.
In 2023, the wage stipend program reached over 1,900 educators in Milwaukee.
learn more: early childhood workforce wage stipend program
Sources:
Milwaukee Succeeds. (2022, November). Early Educator Wage Stipend Launches in Milwaukee.
Milwaukee Succeeds. (2023, February). First Round of Early Educator Stipends Awarded.
White, A. (2022). An Equitable Recovery Starts With Early Childhood: How Cities Are Leveraging ARPA SLFRF to Support Young Children and Families. National League of Cities.
City of Milwaukee City Clerk Communications Center. (2022, December 1). Applications now being accepted for Early Childhood Workforce Stipend Program.
Wisconsin Early Childhood Association. (n.d.). City of Milwaukee Early Childhood Workforce Stipend Program.
|
|
Milwaukee Office of Early Childhood Initiatives
In 2017, the Milwaukee Common Council approved the creation of the Office of Early Childhood Initiatives (OECI), which opened its doors in November 2018. OECI was championed by Alderman Cavalier Johnson, with the goal of advancing and coordinating early childhood services for children from birth to three years old.
OECI collaborates with the County of Milwaukee as well as state and federal entities that administer services to young children. Among other programs, OECI facilitates collaboration among local early childhood partners, connects families to resources, and serves as a clearinghouse for providers and organizations working to ensure high-quality early education in the city.
learn more: Milwaukee office of early childhood initiatives
Sources:
City of Milwaukee Early Education Task Force Writing Subgroup. (2017, October). Recommendations. City of Milwaukee.
White, A. (2022.) An Equitable Recovery Starts With Early Childhood: How Cities are Leveraging ARPA SLFRF to Support Young Children and Families. National League of Cities.
|
|
2017 |
The Office of Early Childhood Initiatives facilitates collaboration among local early childhood partners, connects families to resources, and serves as a clearinghouse for providers and organizations working to ensure high-quality early education in the city
|
In 2017, the Milwaukee Common Council approved the creation of the Office of Early Childhood Initiatives (OECI), which opened its doors in November 2018. OECI was championed by Alderman Cavalier Johnson, with the goal of advancing and coordinating early childhood services for children from birth to three years old.
OECI collaborates with the County of Milwaukee as well as state and federal entities that administer services to young children. Among other programs, OECI facilitates collaboration among local early childhood partners, connects families to resources, and serves as a clearinghouse for providers and organizations working to ensure high-quality early education in the city.
learn more: Milwaukee office of early childhood initiatives
Sources:
City of Milwaukee Early Education Task Force Writing Subgroup. (2017, October). Recommendations. City of Milwaukee.
White, A. (2022.) An Equitable Recovery Starts With Early Childhood: How Cities are Leveraging ARPA SLFRF to Support Young Children and Families. National League of Cities.
|
||
|
Partner Up! Grant Program
First implemented in June 2022, the Partner Up! grant program provides funding to help businesses purchase child care slots on behalf of their employees. Child care programs can apply as businesses to help cover the cost of child care expenses for their own staff. This program is funded by the American Rescue Plan Act, the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Act, the Preschool Development Grant, and Quality Jobs, Equity, Strategy and Training.
Learn more: Partner up! Grant Program
Sources:Wisconsin Department of Children and Families. (n.d.). Partner Up! Grant Program.
|
|
2022 |
|
Helps child care businesses cover the cost of child care for employees
|
First implemented in June 2022, the Partner Up! grant program provides funding to help businesses purchase child care slots on behalf of their employees. Child care programs can apply as businesses to help cover the cost of child care expenses for their own staff. This program is funded by the American Rescue Plan Act, the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Act, the Preschool Development Grant, and Quality Jobs, Equity, Strategy and Training.
Learn more: Partner up! Grant Program
Sources:Wisconsin Department of Children and Families. (n.d.). Partner Up! Grant Program.
|
|
|
REWARD Wisconsin
Wisconsin's REWARD program provides supplemental pay to early childhood educators based on their education level and commitment to their early education program. REWARD is designed to retain and support the professional development of early childhood educators; in turn, this creates a more stable workforce with the skills needed to support young children's healthy learning and development. Supplements range from $500 to $1,900 per educator per year, with an average payment of $615. Amounts increase as educators obtain more formal education, and educators must remain in their early education program for at least six months to qualify for an award. In FY22, REWARD provided supplements to 11,381 early educators; turnover among recipients was 1%, which is much lower than the estimated 26-40% turnover rate among educators in licensed child care programs nationwide.
Learn More: REWARD Program
Sources:Wisconsin AEYC. (n.d.). REWARD Wisconsin.
|
|
CCDBG COVID Relief Allocations – CARES, CRRSE, ARPA (CCDF & Stabilization)
|
$500 to $1,900 per educator per year, with an average supplement of $615
|
Wisconsin's REWARD program provides supplemental pay to early childhood educators based on their education level and commitment to their early education program. REWARD is designed to retain and support the professional development of early childhood educators; in turn, this creates a more stable workforce with the skills needed to support young children's healthy learning and development. Supplements range from $500 to $1,900 per educator per year, with an average payment of $615. Amounts increase as educators obtain more formal education, and educators must remain in their early education program for at least six months to qualify for an award. In FY22, REWARD provided supplements to 11,381 early educators; turnover among recipients was 1%, which is much lower than the estimated 26-40% turnover rate among educators in licensed child care programs nationwide.
Learn More: REWARD Program
Sources:Wisconsin AEYC. (n.d.). REWARD Wisconsin.
|
||
|
Wisconsin Early Childhood Integrated Data System
The Wisconsin Department of Children and Families, Department of Health Services (DHS) and Department of Public Instruction (DPI) have hosted the state’s Early Childhood Integrated Data System (ECIDS) since 2017. The system fosters data-sharing agreements and a data-sharing process for the agencies' demographic, program, and individual data on early childhood services, including child care subsidies, child support, birth records, early health records, maternal health, attendance, and enrollment. The system uses a matching system and encrypted file manager tool to upload deidentified data to an ECIDS portal for researchers’ and agencies’ projects and analyses. The Wisconsin ECIDS compliments the Department of Public Instruction’s WiseDash system, which contains deidentified individual data available by request.
The system is funded through a federal Race to the Top–Early Learning Challenge (RTT-ELC) grant.
Learn more: Wisconsin's Early Childhood Integrated Data System (ECIDS)
|
|
2017 | $15,790,077 in Phase 1 |
Race to the Top Early Learning Challenge Grant
|
Early Childhood Integrated Data System
|
The Wisconsin Department of Children and Families, Department of Health Services (DHS) and Department of Public Instruction (DPI) have hosted the state’s Early Childhood Integrated Data System (ECIDS) since 2017. The system fosters data-sharing agreements and a data-sharing process for the agencies' demographic, program, and individual data on early childhood services, including child care subsidies, child support, birth records, early health records, maternal health, attendance, and enrollment. The system uses a matching system and encrypted file manager tool to upload deidentified data to an ECIDS portal for researchers’ and agencies’ projects and analyses. The Wisconsin ECIDS compliments the Department of Public Instruction’s WiseDash system, which contains deidentified individual data available by request.
The system is funded through a federal Race to the Top–Early Learning Challenge (RTT-ELC) grant.
Learn more: Wisconsin's Early Childhood Integrated Data System (ECIDS)
|
|
Wisconsin Four-Year-Old Kindergarten
In 1898, the Wisconsin State Legislature voted to permit schools to establish 4-year-old kindergarten (4K) alongside 5-year-old kindergarten (5K). 4K is now available to all children who turn 4 years old on or before September 1st of the school year. The program is universal, free, and voluntary for families, and it is offered through a mixed-delivery system. 4K’s delivery model is varied and includes half-day and full-day programs, offered across 97% of the state’s districts and in partner child care, Head Start, and private programs. Wisconsin received a Preschool Development Grant Birth to Five Renewal in 2021, which was used to conduct a needs assessment and development of a strategic plan to further expand access to public programs.
Learn More: Wisconsin Four-Year-Old Kindergarten
Sources:Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction. (n.d.). History of 4K and 5K in Wisconsin.National Institute for Early Education Research. (2023). Wisconsin.National Institute for Early Education Research. (2021). Wisconsin.
|
|
1898 | $167 million in FY22 |
|
Percentage of 4-year-olds enrolled (as of 2022): 61%
Percentage of 3-year-olds enrolled (as of 2022): 1%
Minimum hours of operation: 2.5 hrs/day
|
In 1898, the Wisconsin State Legislature voted to permit schools to establish 4-year-old kindergarten (4K) alongside 5-year-old kindergarten (5K). 4K is now available to all children who turn 4 years old on or before September 1st of the school year. The program is universal, free, and voluntary for families, and it is offered through a mixed-delivery system. 4K’s delivery model is varied and includes half-day and full-day programs, offered across 97% of the state’s districts and in partner child care, Head Start, and private programs. Wisconsin received a Preschool Development Grant Birth to Five Renewal in 2021, which was used to conduct a needs assessment and development of a strategic plan to further expand access to public programs.
Learn More: Wisconsin Four-Year-Old Kindergarten
Sources:Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction. (n.d.). History of 4K and 5K in Wisconsin.National Institute for Early Education Research. (2023). Wisconsin.National Institute for Early Education Research. (2021). Wisconsin.
|
Demographics Link copied!
Demographics Data Scorecard
State population
5,892,539 Source U.S. Census, 2022
Rural %
32.9% Source U.S. Census, 2020
Urban %
67.1% Source U.S. Census, 2020
Number of children 0–4
320,245 Source KIDS COUNT, 2021
Poverty levels - children 0—8 below 200% poverty
35% Source KIDS COUNT, 2021
Median family income among households with children
$87,000.00 Source KIDS COUNT, 2021
Unemployment rate
2.9% Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, June 2024
Unemployment rate of parents
4% Source KIDS COUNT, 2021
Children under age 6 with all available parents in the labor force
73% Source KIDS COUNT, 2021
Children living in households with a high housing cost burden
21% Source KIDS COUNT, 2021
Child Population by Race and Ethnicity Source KIDS COUNT, 2021
Race and Ethnicity
- American Indian and Alaska Native (1%)
- Asian (4%)
- Black or African American (9%)
- Hispanic or Latino (13%)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander (.5%)
- Two or more races (4%)
- White, not Hispanic or Latino (65%)
| Year | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Governor | D | D | D | D | D |
| State House | R | R | R | R | R |
| State Senate | R | R | R | R | R |
Early Childhood Education Programs Link copied!
Early Childhood Education Programs
| Program Name | Program Length* | Universal or Targeted Pre-K Policy | State Spending Per Child |
|---|---|---|---|
| Four-Year-Old Kindergarten Program (4K) Source: NIEER 2023 | Half-day; 437 hours/school year; minimum 2.5 hours/day | Universal Pre-K Policy (4-Year-Olds) Source: NIEER 2023 | $3,831 |
2023 Percent of 3-Year-Olds Enrolled in Early Childhood Education Programs Source: NIEER 2023
Programs
- Percent of 3-Year-Old Children Enrolled in Public Early Childhood Education Programs (0.1%)
- 3-Year-old Children Enrolled in Head Start (10%)
- Other/None (89.9%)
2023 Percent of 4-Year-Olds Enrolled in Early Childhood Education Programs Source: NIEER 2023
Programs
- Percent of 4-Year-Old Children Enrolled in Public Early Childhood Education Programs (63%)
- 4-Year-old Children Enrolled in Head Start (6%)
- Other/None (31%)
Workforce Link copied!
2017–2019 Median Hourly Wages Source CSCCE 2018, 2020
Role
-
Child Care Workers
$10.49 (2017, adjusted)
$10.66 (2019) -
Preschool Teachers
$12.18 (2017, adjusted)
$12.23 (2019) -
Preschool or Child Care Center Directors
$20.43 (2017, adjusted)
$21.64 (2019)
Funding Sources Link copied!
Federal and State Early Childhood Education Funding (in Millions) Source First Five Years Fund, 2024
Funding Source
- Head Start and Early Head Start Funding ($169.7)
- CCDBG & Mandatory Funds ($183.3)
- CCDBG State Match ($23.4)
- State-Funded Pre-K ($172)
- MIECHV ($9.9)
- IDEA Part C ($8.5)
- IDEA Part B, Sec 619 ($10.4)
- TANF Early Learning and Care ($103.9)