WCCF and the Wisconsin Early Learning Coalition support a Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS) for child care in the state budget for 2009-11.
The Coalition supports the Governor’s proposal to invest $2.7 million to build a quality rating system. Tthe Coalition also endorses investing an additional $3 million (at a minimum) to help child care programs improve their programs to meet quality standards established in the QRIS, with $2 million of that total coming from federal stimulus funds already set aside for quality improvement in the state’s Child Care and Development Block Grant. The additional funding would go for enhanced technical assistance, scholarships and wage supplements, and grants or higher payments to programs meeting quality standards.
In addition, the Coalition supports:
* Enhancements to home visiting programs through additional training;
* The Governor’s proposal to increase annual funding for 4-year-old Kindergarten (4K)start-up grants, with priority going to districts with community approaches to 4K delivery; and
* Child care tax credits tied to use of higher quality child care programs
The Early Learning Coalition’s full response to the Governor’s budget proposal is online at http://www.greatstartwi.org/pdf/2009-11_budget_position_early_learning_coalition.pdf.
WCCF has produced two informational briefs about key budget 2009-11 budget issues in early care and education.
* Quality Rating and Improvement Systems (QRIS) describes elements of a QRIS and the potential impacts of an effective system.
* Cost Containment Proposals in Wisconsin Shares examines several proposals to save money in the Wisconsin Shares child care subsidy program, including frozen reimbursement rates, attendance-based reimbursements, swipe card systems for collecting attendance data, increased co-payments, establishing waiting lists, and changes in income determination.