The Wisconsin Partnership’s Public Statement on the State Budget

Public Statement on the 2025-27 Wisconsin State Budget on behalf of the Wisconsin Partnership:
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We all want Wisconsin’s economy to grow and families to thrive. The Wisconsin Partnership is grateful for Governor Evers’ consistent prioritization of early care and education funding throughout the state budget process. His commitment to young children, working families, and Wisconsin’s workforce is clear, and we thank him for his leadership.

The impending conclusion of Child Care Counts presents significant challenges. Without continued investment into this sector, providers will face difficult decisions. In a Spring 2025 survey from UW-Madison, over 25% of providers say they are likely to close their businesses when Child Care Counts funding stops. At the same time, the other 75% of providers will need to reduce their services, cut wages, and/or raise rates on working families. 

This issue impacts kids’ futures, families’ pocketbooks and employers’ bottom lines in every electoral district of the state, regardless of party or allegiance. We respectfully urge every legislator and member of the Joint Committee on Finance to recognize the critical role early childhood education plays in the strength of our economy and the well-being of our communities.

Now is the time for state leaders to come together and invest in a sustainable childcare solution that works for the entire state. By working together, we can ensure that Wisconsin's families have access to quality, affordable child care, which is foundational to the state's economic vitality and future prosperity.

Making a Call to Your Legislators

The Wisconsin Partnership is a coalition of local education partnerships from across Wisconsin working in Brown, Kenosha, and Racine Counties as well as the City of Milwaukee. We focus our work on early childhood education – including kindergarten readiness and early literacy.

Together, we know that for children to succeed, we must transform failing systems and ensure all young people have a pathway to economic mobility. Better systems are grounded in quality data and designed through the authentic engagement of those most directly impacted by our public policies.

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