Sign The Petition to Fund Child Care in Wisconsin

The petition: https://www.raisingwisconsin.org/state-budget-request/

In every town and city in Wisconsin, child care is crucial but often goes unnoticed. The problem is clear: the federal funds that kept our child care centers stable during the pandemic are ending. Now, the care and education of our children are at risk.

We need to secure ongoing funding for child care in Wisconsin urgently. We can't delay. Your voice is important today.

Since 2021, child care providers in Wisconsin have depended on money from the federal American Rescue Plan Act. This funding helped stabilize the industry, allowed providers to increase wages, kept skilled early education staff and stopped tuition from rising too much. The benefits were that more centers opened, educators could stay in their jobs and parents got the care they needed for their kids.

But now, with this funding ending by June 2025, we face a big question: What if we don't invest more?

Think of a small bridge in your community over a river you hardly noticed. It gets small repairs and life goes on smoothly, people go to work, kids go to school, trucks deliver goods. But if maintenance stops, small cracks can become big, costly and even dangerous problems.

Wisconsin's child care system is similar.

Right now, ARPA support stops cracks from forming. Take away that support and problems grow fast. Centers close, parents leave jobs and communities lose valuable workers.

Also, when affordable child care is gone, working parents of all income levels face tough choices. Employees who can't count on child care leave important jobs. Businesses, big and small, have to work without key staff. Slowly, the whole state feels the economic strain.

Like well-kept roads or reliable public transport, Wisconsin needs strong child care to support its communities and economy. This isn't a small budget item ... it's a vital investment. Child care keeps our businesses running, our economy strong and our communities thriving.

This issue is bigger than family matters. It's about protecting our economic system. Studies show Wisconsin loses billions each year when child care isn't enough.

Investing $480 million of state money provides stability, helps employers keep skilled workers and enriches Wisconsin's neighborhoods and towns.

During the pandemic, 4,877 providers stayed open, ensuring child care for over 312,000 Wisconsin children. Early educators got better pay, employers kept key team members and families of all income levels could afford child care. But with federal funds ending, tuition rates jumped 14% in one year, much faster than inflation.

Without quick action to support child care funding in Wisconsin, these rising costs will worsen, creating tough choices for families.

Beyond the immediate effects, child care investments bring lasting benefits. Kids who get high-quality early care have better lifelong outcomes: improved education, better job opportunities and stronger community ties. Other long-term benefits include less spending on special education, social welfare and even criminal justice.

Supporting child care is an investment in Wisconsin's future, positively affecting everyone.

Wisconsin families, businesses and communities of all backgrounds need stable child care. We can't wait or stay silent. Right now, state leaders are deciding where to fund critical services and YOUR VOICE matters.

Join us, neighbors helping neighbors, in urging our state leaders to approve the essential $480 million investment in child care funding. Signing the petition, available online @ https://www.raisingwisconsin.org/state-budget-request/, takes only seconds but shapes Wisconsin's future for generations. Together, let's ensure all children, parents, employers and communities across Wisconsin can thrive.

Act now: sign today and learn more by visiting https://www.raisingwisconsin.org/state-budget-request/