July 2 DECE Updates for Child Care Providers

A special message from DCF Secretary Jeff Pertl on the state budget money bag icon

Since becoming secretary in September 2024, I’ve visited dozens of child care centers, and the passion for our kids is evident at every one of them. Moreover, you all shared the same story: high prices for families, terrible profit margins, and low wages for staff. A broken system that has been desperate for change.

Building on the progress we made under Secretary Emilie Amundson’s steadfast leadership, I am excited to share that yesterday our state took a big step in its work to fix the system with Governor Evers announcing a tentative bipartisan budget deal that includes a more than $330 million investment in early care and education, including:

  • $110 million in direct payments to child care providers during the first year of the budget to ensure continued support for providers as the Child Care Counts program winds down
  • $66 million to fund a new “Get Kids Ready” initiative, the first-ever child care program funded solely by general purpose revenue (GPR) in state history, which will support child care providers serving four-year-olds.
  • Over $123 million to increase the Wisconsin Shares subsidy rate to the 75th percentile.
  • A pilot program that provides increased per child payments to providers caring for infants and toddlers on a Wisconsin Shares authorization.

This deal is a historic win for Wisconsin’s child care system and a reflection of the foundation DCF Secretary Emeritus Emilie Amundson built and Gov. Evers’ courage and commitment to doing what’s best for our kids. It is also a reflection of your advocacy efforts. Your stories were heard, both here in Wisconsin and across the nation, and helped make child care an essential part of our state budget.

This investment is an important step, one that acknowledges the critical role you play in supporting families and our economy. It’s a foundational investment, one we should all appreciate and be proud of. However, I recognize that there’s still much work to be done to ensure accessible, affordable, and high-quality child care for every family. I remain committed to listening and learning from providers and parents across the state, and to working across the aisle to continue strengthening our child care system, and the workforce behind it.

On behalf of myself and Governor Evers, thank you for the loving care, patience, and dedication you show the children in your care every day.