Wisconsin Department of Children and Families - Division of Early Care and Education
Bureau of Early Care Regulation
Child Care Licensing Procedure Manual
When circumstances necessitate immediate closure of a facility, rather than initiating a summary suspension, BECR may secure closure of a facility for the same circumstances by permitting the licensee to temporarily close until the investigation is concluded or the situation is remediated. When BECR permits temporary closure in lieu of issuing a summary suspension, the licensee agrees that s/he will close the child care program for the duration of the investigation, and will not care for any children until permitted to do so by BECR. This is accomplished by having the licensee sign the Temporary Closure of Child Care Center - Pending Investigation.
This kind of temporary closure is not an enforcement action subject to appeal as provided in Wis. Stat. §§ 48.72 or 227.51(3), and Wis. Admin. Code §§ DCF 250.11(10)(a), DCF 251.11(9)(a), and DCF 252.05(6)(a) (whichever code provision applies). Rather, it is a voluntary agreement drawn up by BECR and signed by the licensee to temporarily close operations for the duration of the investigation or other remediation, assuring that no children will be in care during the interim. Without such an agreement, or in violation of the agreement, a summary suspension (or a permanent closure agreement with the licensee in lieu of summary suspension) would be initiated. The temporary closure agreement establishes a contractual arrangement between BECR and the licensee that includes BECR-imposed terms and conditions for the closure, for the time period while the investigation is being conducted. The licensee is permitted to hold the license until the investigation is concluded and further action is determined, but is not allowed to have any children in care until BECR permits it.
This page last updated 05/2016.