MADISON, Wis. (WRN) — Wisconsin’s first ever-entirely state-funded child care program has launched.
The Get Kids Ready program will provide $65 million in direct payments to childcare centers providing school readiness programming for the upcoming school year. According to the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families, qualified providers will use the funding to focus on developing children’s academic, physical, social-emotional and self-help skills.
The state pays childcare providers for the time kids spend in Get Kids Ready programming, making that part of the day free for families. The funding comes from the 2025-27 biennial budget signed by Democratic governor Tony Evers last summer.