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Early Education Policy Recommendations

From the beginning, the quality of the education that children receive has an enormous impact on their well being, including their future employment, earnings potential, ability to build assets, and ability to participate meaningfully in the larger community. Below are recommendations for early care and education for
2008-2011:

Support Efforts to Increase High-Quality Early Learning for Kids

1. GREAT START QUALITY IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM
Wisconsin would launch a bold new statewide initiative to ensure that children through age 5 have access to high quality early learning opportunities. The centerpiece of the initiative would be a Great Start grant program that provides resources directly to programs and parents to improve nurturing and early learning for children.

2. WISCONSIN SHARES: GREAT START FOR CHILDREN AT RISK
The Wisconsin Shares child care subsidy program would provide fiscal incentives to improve the quality of child care received by children of low-income working families. These children from low-income families are precisely the children that research tells us are most at risk for school failure.

3. ESTABLISH GREAT START EARLY LEARNING COUNCIL
Wisconsin would establish a state-level Great Start Early Learning Council to examine ways to improve educational opportunities for children through age 5. The Council would review data and trends in early care and education, identify needs, coordinate policies across agencies, examine efficient use of resources, and plan for a system of high quality services available to families and their children.

4. TIE CHILD CARE TAX DEDUCTION TO QUALITY
Wisconsin’s child care tax deduction would be doubled when parents use a high quality child care setting for children through age 5. For those who have insufficient income to receive the tax deduction, a tax credit would be available. The concept is to use the tax system to encourage parents to place their children in higher quality child care settings.