​Forty-two early care and education providers across Kenosha County plan to offer the new Get Kids Ready program, representing 38% of all providers in the county. This places Kenosha 12th in Wisconsin for provider participation, the highest among StriveTogether communities, and the highest of any county with more than 100 providers. Providers from across the county are participating, including the City of Kenosha and communities west of I-94 such as Salem, Twin Lakes, and Wilmot, reflecting strong regional commitment to school readiness.
Backed by $66 million in state funding and administered by the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families, Get Kids Ready provides free school readiness programming for 4-year-olds during the funded portion of the day, reducing costs for families while expanding access to high-quality early learning.
To support implementation, participating providers are invited to join a statewide Community of Practice, offering technical assistance and peer learning on curriculum alignment, scheduling the required 437 hours of instruction, staffing, compliance, and family outreach.
Why it matters: Expanding access to high-quality early learning helps ensure more children enter kindergarten ready to succeed.
Next steps: Building Our Future will continue working with providers and partners to support implementation and ensure families across Kenosha County are aware of this new no-cost opportunity.