WCCAA Legislative Accomplishments
The WCCAA Board often hears feedback asking, “Exactly what does being a member of WCCAA do for me?” The following is a brief synopsis of what the Board of Directors has been working on legislatively. In addition to the many Resolutions and Recommendations that are created at the annual meeting, many other issues arise throughout the year.
Some of the legislative issues that have or are currently being worked on:
· Legislators passed a bill allowing the Department of Children and Families to go after fraudulent payments by holding owners of centers personally liable for re-payment if they go out of business. WCCAA met with legislators and attended meetings to show our support of this bill.
· The Background Checks Bill was passed requiring the Department of Children and Families to run background checks on licensees every three months. The bill also states that employers must run checks on employees every year. WCCAA made an attempt to change some of the language of the bill by submitting written testimony, and also Renae Henning, a WCCAA Board member, testified at a public hearing. Many legislators also were trying to make changes during the floor debates. While we were unsuccessful at changing the time frame, we did make our voice heard.
· The Transportation Bill was passed, and a few WCCAA Board members attended the Governor’s announcement at Penfield Children’s Center in Milwaukee. Previous to the announcement, WCCAA voiced our concerns about some of the requirements that were being decided on.
· Laura Klingelhoets, Beverly Anderson, and Angela Lampkin, WCCAA Board Members, as well as Patti Grede and Dave Linsmeier, other WCCAA members, were asked to participate in discussions and planning of a Quality Rating System (now known as YoungStar). There were several opportunities to provide feedback on the system and how it could be the most effective. There were also listening sessions held around the state where many WCCAA members attended. Board members met with Joint Finance Committee members to share our support of YoungStar and hopefully gain their support.
· WCCAA Board members worked closely with the Department of Children and Families regarding the proposed automated attendance tracking system. We shared our concerns that with a swipe card system there could still be potential fraud, and also how expensive a system would be with the amount of cards needed on an annual basis.
· Robb Schuelke, a member of the Legislative Committee, made contacts with a legislative drafter to begin drafting a bill that would be sent to committee in 2010 allowing another accrediting body in our State, NAC (National Accreditation Commission).
· WCCAA submitted a letter to the Auditing Bureau regarding concerns that child care administrators continue to have about the Licensing Department. Senator Mary Lazich requested the information, and connected us with the Auditor. Robb Schuelke obtained information from around the state, and submitted a letter to the Audit Bureau.
· Beverly Anderson, a WCCAA Board member, compiled a list of licensing questions and concerns that were obtained through feedback from WCCAA members. This list also included suggestions for how to address the concerns, and this was then forwarded to Deputy Secretary Henry Wilde in preparation of his attending one of the WCCA Board meetings.
· Laura Klingelhoets, Beverly Anderson, Patti Grede and Dave Linsmeier met on a couple of occasions with Raquel Rutledge from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Raquel was the writer of the series on fraud that was in the papers this past year. We also had an opportunity to meet with the Journal Sentinel Editorial Board to discuss our concerns with the poor quality that exists, but also to emphasize that there are many very good high quality programs that are operating around our State.
· Laura Klingelhoets was appointed to the Governor’s Advisory Council on Early Education, which is co-chaired by Secretary Reggie Bicha and State Superintendent Tony Evers. This is an advisory council consisting of representatives from many different fields that have a vested interest in children and families. There are representatives from the health, corrections, philanthropy and business community, along with early intervention and home visiting representatives, WCCF, WECA, Supporting Families Together and several others.
· We will continue to have representatives attending the Child Care Forum meetings which are held by the Department of Children and Families Licensing division. Also, Collaborating Partners, The Registry, Superintendents Advisory on 4’s, Teach/Reward and the Early Learning Coalition.