WAUNAKEE – Today, State Representative Alex Joers (D-Waunakee) visited Arthouse Preschool with the new Department of Children & Families Secretary Jeff Pertl. During the visit, Representative Joers and Secretary Pertl heard from teachers about the challenges they face with the loss of Child Care Counts funding.
“We know there is an affordability crisis with child care right now,” said Joers. “There is no doubt that early educators are seeing the impacts of the reduction in state aid every day too. For us to have a successful and strong economy moving forward, Wisconsin must put more support behind our child care industry. We also have to recognize the important work early educators are doing and provide better support to staff in the field of child care and early education.”
The Department of Children & Families recently released new survey results which found that 60 percent of providers across the state have unutilized capacity, such as closed classrooms, due primarily to staff shortages. Providers also reported in the survey that if they were able to operate at full capacity, they could serve up to 33,000 more kids.
“We are seeing that a lot of these issues are connected,” Joers continued. “If educators and staff were better supported by the state, providers might be able to open more space. Solving this part of the problem would help with availability and affordability in the long run.”
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