Advocacy

WCCAA has made a strong commitment to quality in early education. As 4k programs grow across the state, accreditation, child care subsidy issues, health issues and unions approach us we need to unite and let our voices and concerns be heard with our local legislators, in Madison and through collaborations with other organizations. We encourage you to join our board members in advocating to achieve our goals to strengthen families and our businesses.

To reach your legislators go to www.legis.state.wi.us. This link also will give you access to the joint finance committee and the list of legislators that sit on the education committee.

Some of the legislative issues the board has been working on.

• 4k Funding - As districts are starting 4k programs across the state we need to ensure that we are included as a collaborating partner. DPI is recommending a .1 funding incentive to those districts that collaborate. We need to let the governor and our legislators know we want this included in the budget.
• Early Learning Coalition - The Early Learning Coalition has been endorsed by WCCAA along with 9 other organizations to date including WEAC, The School Board Administrators Association, Headstart, Birth to Three and others. Through this coalition we are working legislatively towards three common goals: Professional Development, A Quality Rating System and 4k funding. You can find more out about this initiative by contacting Laura Klingelhoets at stppngstns1@aol.com, Bev Anderson at beva@ebenezerchildcare.com or by going on the Wisconsin Council on Children and Families web site.
• Child Care Subsidy Task Force – The Department of Workforce Development is currently looking at how to restructure the child care subsidy programs. This coming as a direct result of a large deficit in the budget and fraudulent practices. Angela Lampkin of our board co-chaired the task force that was put together by Secretary Roberta Gassman and Bev Anderson was our representative.
• The Superintendents Advisory Committee on 4k – Several of our board members sit on this committee. It is facilitated by Jill Haglund of DPI and had representation from early education organizations across the state. Currently the group is looking at exactly how collaborations between public and private organizations should look.

Other web links:
www.wccf.com
www.collaboratingpartners.com