The Northeast Wisconsin Child Care Alliance is a network of partners working to make it easier for children ages birth to 5 and their families to get the high-quality, affordable early care and education (ECE) and family supports they need to thrive.
Our newsletters aim to educate and inform our communities about the need to transform early care and education in ways that will bring about more equitable and lasting outcomes for children and families and to spark opportunities for action, alignment, and coordination.
This month you’ll find:
LOCAL + STATE NEWS:
- Child Care Providers must indicate intent to participate in the WI Dept of Children and Families (DCF) Get Kids Ready program by Feb 1st
- Raising Wisconsin’s Children Conference February 4, 2026
- Child Care Resource & Referral wraps up another successful round of Road to Success
- New reporting requirements for funding and its impact
- New DCF Early Childhood Training and Technical Assistance webpage
OPPORTUNITIES TO ENGAGE & LEARN:
- Asset Funders Network releases brief exploring housing-based solutions to strengthen home-based child care and the types of investments needed.
- Your voice is needed for local, state, and national advocacy
- OPEN: Annual Field Survey from the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)
Local News
Wisconsin’s Dept of Children and Families (DCF) Get Kids Ready program: Starting this year, Get Kids Ready will be a new, free initiative for 4-year olds in child care to get school readiness instruction at their child care provider. The new initiative aims to enhance school readiness instruction in participating child care providers, while state funding will make this program free for families.
For Child Care Providers:
The Intent to Participate for the 2026-27 school year will open January 6, 2026, in the DCF Provider Portal and must be submitted by child care providers no later than February 1, 2026. Child care providers that do not submit an Intent to Participate by February 1, 2026, will not be able to participate in Get Kids Ready for the 2026-2027 school year. Learn more about eligibility for child care providers on the DCF website.
For Parents/Caregivers:
Get Kids Ready is free to families. Parents cannot be charged for the hours in which their child is in Get Kids Ready school readiness programming. If families require care for hours beyond Get Kids Ready, that is not covered under the program and would be an additional expense. Children must be 4 years old by September 1, 2026, to participate for the 2026-27 school year. Learn more about Get Kids Ready for parents/caregivers on the DCF website.
Raising Wisconsin’s Children Conference – Helping Kids Thrive When Life Gets Tough. Free, online learning event February 4, 2026 and offers 6 hours CEUs for child care providers. The Raising Wisconsin Children Conference is a free, virtual event designed for parents, caregivers, educators, and anyone who supports children and families. Hear from expert speakers who will share research-informed strategies to promote children’s emotional well-being and learning. The conference will share practical ways parents, caregivers, and professionals can help children cope with challenges, build strength, and grow. Spanish interpretation can be requested. Register here.
Child Care Resource & Referral’s (CCR&R) Road to Success program is a comprehensive training series that helps individuals start their careers in early childhood education. Graduates leave the program with the qualifications to be a lead child care teacher or family child care provider. In 2025, through a collaboration between CCR&R, Forward Service Corp, and the Fox Valley Workforce Development Board, three successful rounds of the Road to Success program were completed. Each cohort built pathways into the childcare workforce through training, employment, and ongoing support. The final round was especially impactful, serving six of the seven participants whose first language is not English. This cohort demonstrated strong commitment and resilience, and the program’s tailored supports helped reduce language and cultural barriers while strengthening skills, confidence, and connections to employment. This round highlighted the importance of inclusive workforce strategies that recognize and build on the strengths of a diverse community. Another cohort will begin in March 2026, please reach out to Liz Eisenberg for more information.
Recent child care fraud allegations in Minnesota have brought increased attention and scrutiny across the sector. All states will now have to comply with new reporting to provide justification for Child Care Development Fund draw downs. DCF Secretary Pertl remains confident in Wisconsin’s accountability measures. Included below are recent interviews including comments from Secretary Pertl and Ruth Schmidt, Executive Director of WECA.
Wisconsin Examiner – Jan 15, 2026
Channel 3000 – Jan 6, 2026
Spectrum News – Jan 5, 2026
Common Good News – Jan 2, 2026
DCF recently launched a new webpage to help providers find Training and Technical Assistance (TTA). DCF developed the webpage based on feedback from child care providers about their specific challenges regarding finding tailored TTA. In addition to locating DCF-funded opportunities providers can search by organization name or by topic area, such as Business Trainings or Health and Safety. While the page does not provide information on every available topic it is meant to help providers more easily find assistance that fits their programmatic needs.
Opportunities to Engage & Learn
The Asset Funders Network released an informative and compelling brief on the intersection of housing, child care, and capital. While the briefing is geared towards funders, anyone working in these areas will benefit from digging deeper into their research. The Alliance has used the brief as an opportunity to connect with folks in NE Wisconsin working in housing and banking and to advocate for child care options to be considered as new investment and collaborations emerge across the region addressing housing shortages and affordability. Learn more here.
Timely Opportunities for ADVOCACY:
The Alliance and its partners continue to follow proposed federal policy changes that could impact early care and education in Wisconsin. Our partners at WECA are tracking the following, please take action as you are able. We’ll communicate more updates and opportunities as they arise.
- Federal Appropriations – Letter Writing Portal Available
Congress must finalize federal funding by January 30, with several bills still pending, including funds for child care and early learning. A significant amount of federal funding ensures countless programs and services offered by organizations and agencies across Wisconsin can provide essential supports for early childhood educators, the child care sector, and families. Right now CCDBG, Head Start, and Early Head Start funding are at a critical juncture, as Congress negotiates federal funding levels. Decisions made in this moment will determine whether early childhood programs are strengthened or further strained. Use this letter writing portal to tell your members of Congress to increase funding for Child Care and Development Block Grants (CCDBG), Head Start and Early Head Start. - Proposed CCDF Rule Changes – Public Comments Due by Feb 4
The Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) is the federal program that helps low-income families afford child care. Proposed federal rule changes could make care less affordable for families and reduce financial stability for providers. Public comments are due by February 4th. While Wisconsin is unlikely to change course under current leadership, a future administration could. More information can be found here.
NAEYC Field Survey
Early childhood educators, the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) wants to hear from you! Take the latest field survey to share your perspective in an effort to shape the future. It is more important than ever to hear directly from educators about the ways they are being impacted by a rapidly changing policy landscape. Learn more and take the 10-minute survey on NAEYC’s website – available in English and Spanish. Please note: the survey closes soon! Participants will be entered into a drawing for a $100 gift card.Thank You Partners
