Pre-K Advocates Want More Early Education Funding In Walker Budget

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Governor Scott Walker’s proposed state spending for K-12 is getting scrutiny. Now proponents of early education are trying to get budget attention.

Studies have indicated most brain development occurs by age five; experiences before that can impact a child’s cognitive function and language. That in turn can affect their earning power and health later in life says Ruth Schmidt, the executive director of the Wisconsin Early Childhood Association: “What we know is that if we wait until kindergarten to start talking about education and children, we’ve waited too long.”

Wisconsin has a high percentage of couples who work. Because of this, Schmidt says, it is important to have good childcare programs. However, most of the learning programs in Wisconsin’s subsidized childcare program rank poorly: Most YoungStar early education programs get a two on a scale of five.

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“What Wisconsin is doing that is really significant is putting dollars towards helping childcare programs improve their quality. So if you’re a two-star program, we know what it will take to help you become a three-star, four-star, five-star program. That means addressing issues such as staff qualifications”

Schmidt says her group would like the state to provide more scholarships for those working in early child education. They also want the state to use federal childcare dollars to improve early learning programs.