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State Profiles
Wisconsin
Wisconsin has a long history of offering four-year-old kindergarten. Since as early as 1848, the Wisconsin State Constitution has called for school districts to be as uniform as practical and free to all children between the ages of four and 20 years. In fact, four-year-old kindergarten (4K) is part of the overall formula for school district funding. State funding provides approximately two-thirds of the school funding with local communities providing the remaining funds through local property taxes. Since 4K is part of the school system, the program must be open to all four-year-old children in school districts that choose to offer the program.
In the mid 1990's 4K experienced a resurgence in popularity, and more school districts began to offer it. This expansion was the result of increased interest in the role schools can play in closing the readiness and achievement gaps, early brain development research, analysis of cost benefits of early interventions, and increased parent interest. Many Wisconsin school districts are interested in expanding 4K and working in community approaches to do so. As a result, these districts began to work with child care and Head Start programs to maximize the benefits to children of working parents and to minimize any negative impact on existing pre-k centers. Collaborative community approaches to the provision of 4K were created in key communities and now serve as models for other communities.
Key Milestones
- Sixty-two percent of school districts offered 4K programs in the 2006-07 school year.
- Public awareness materials were developed to spread the message and promote community approaches including the 2002 Wisconsin Association of School Boards Magazine, two lessons learned publications, and a video tape highlighting the Governor and State Superintendent.
- State agencies have addressed policies and practices to promote outcomes including Department of Public Instruction policy bulletins, legislative fact sheets, and changing practices; Department of Work Force Development policy on utilization of child care subsidies; and Department of Health and Family Services policy guidance for child care licensing.
- Grassroots organizing and constituency building have mobilized community campaigns and expanded the stakeholders’ investment in the campaign public policy.
- A website and list-serve exist to inform stakeholders of recent research, events, and issues.
- Two statewide leadership conferences have brought 400 people representing more than 60 communities to the table.
- Presentations on four-year-old kindergarten and community approaches have occurred for four constituency group conferences or meetings including: the Governor’s Task Force on Educational Excellence, Early Education Committee; the Association of Wisconsin School Administrators; the Wisconsin Child Care Administrators Association; the Wisconsin Early Childhood Association, Wisconsin Education Association Council; the UW Oshkosh Early Childhood Conference; and the Wisconsin Head Start Association Conference.
- The Wisconsin Child Care Resource and Referral Network co-sponsored strategic regional activities to expand the support base within the child care/Head Start community. A strategic guide has been developed to provide a basic model for the meetings.
- A technical assistance infrastructure has utilized funding from the Trust for Early Education, the Joyce Foundation, and state agencies to provide community collaboration coaches to support early childhood regional networks.
Pre-K Champions
Wisconsin has an elected State Superintendent of Public Instruction. The current State Superintendent, Elizabeth Burmaster, campaigned and was elected for her New Wisconsin Promise that included a focus on early learning opportunities. She convened the first state wide coalition to address 4K and has made 4K a part of her budget proposal. On the national level she is a leader for the Council of Chief State School Officers Early Education Cadre.
Governor James Doyle made a substantial commitment to 4K during his first state budget process by vetoing a proposal to reduce 4K membership aid. Since that time, 4K has been a major priority for the Governor including making early education one of three focus areas for the Governor's Task Force on Educational Excellence including 4K recommendations in the KidsFirst Agenda, and participating in National Governor's Association early education events.
Wisconsin's First Lady, Jessica Doyle, was part of the State Team attending the NGA early education meeting. She is a willing partner in promotion of 4K and other early education efforts.
Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development Secretary Roberta Gassman, and Department of Health and Family Services Secretary Helene Nelson have participated in promotional efforts and supported their departments' role in policies development.
Through the Forces for Four-Year Olds Advisory Committee, a wide variety of champions has emerged from stakeholder associations. Examples include Donna Sorensen representing the Association of Wisconsin School Administrators, David Linsmeier a child care director and Sheri Kraus from the Wisconsin Association of School Boards.
Next Steps for Wisconsin
- Continue to promote recommendations from Governor's KidsFirst Initiative and Task Force on Educational Excellence during the current state budget process.
- Continue to identify and address policies that hinder and support community approaches.
- Expand efforts related to economic development including: activity to be conducted through Wisconsin Economic Development Association, a resource guide on funding community approaches, exploration of a report on economic impact in the school, and continued presentations.
- Continue to build the early childhood infrastructure by utilizing regional networks and providing technical assistance to communities through collaboration coaches.
- Continue other collaboration including promotion of the Wisconsin Model Early Learning Standards, creation of training materials, conference planning, alignment with early childhood special education efforts on inclusion, participation with Department of Health and Family Services, Early Childhood Comprehensive System grant and others.
- Seek funding to continue efforts.
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Meeting the Challenge of Rural Pre-K
Families everywhere struggle to find high-quality pre-k programs for their children, but the problem is even more acute in rural areas. Pre-K Now has come out with recommendations for federal policymakers to help states meet the unique challenges of rural pre-k.
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Video: Briefing on America's Pre-K Movement
Pre-K Now held a briefing for congressional staff, cosponsored by Sen. Hillary Clinton and Sen. Kit Bond, on October 1. Hear what a governor, three superintendents, two directors of early childhood programs, and a national teacher of the year think Congress should do to increase families' access to quality, state-funded pre-k.
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Find High-Quality Pre-K
With Our Checklist
Quality is key to unlocking pre-k's many benefits. Learn what to ask about and look for when choosing a pre-k program for your child.
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Tour a Pre-K Classroom
Through our virtual classroom tour and our short video following real children through their pre-k year, we will help you recognize high quality, understand why it makes a difference, and show you how children benefit.
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