Wisconsin Launches First State-Funded Child Care Program

New "Get Kids Ready" initiative aims to reduce costs for parents of 4-year-olds

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

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Wisconsin is launching its first fully state-funded child care program called "Get Kids Ready" starting in the 2026-27 school year. The $65 million program will cover tuition costs for 4-year-olds, making child care more affordable for families. The goal is to prepare young children for school while easing the financial burden on parents.

Why it matters

Child care costs have become a major financial strain for many Wisconsin families, often exceeding 20% of household income. This new state-funded program aims to improve access to early childhood education and make child care more affordable, especially for low-income families.

The details

The "Get Kids Ready" program will be available at 1,400 child care providers across the state, with a goal of serving 24,000 children. Parents will not pay tuition, as the state will cover the full cost and pay it directly to the child care centers. Parents will only be responsible for covering the other half of their child's care, along with any additional expenses.

  • The "Get Kids Ready" program is set to launch in the 2026-27 school year.

The players

Jeff Pertl

Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families, who toured a child care center in Fond du Lac to promote the new program.

Jesus' Little Lambs

A child care center in Fond du Lac that Pertl visited to discuss the "Get Kids Ready" initiative.

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What they’re saying

“Most of the childcare subsidies and funding that we use comes from the federal government, and in the last budget the state decided to make it's first investment, so it's very exciting.”

— Jeff Pertl, Secretary, Wisconsin Department of Children and Families (fox11online.com)

“The thing for child care is it costs more than a year of college at this point for folks, and so affordability is a really big issue. Different parts of the state, people are spending 20% of their income on child care a kid, way higher than it's supposed to be, like 7%.”

— Jeff Pertl, Secretary, Wisconsin Department of Children and Families (fox11online.com)

What’s next

The "Get Kids Ready" program is set to launch at the start of the 2026-27 school year, providing state-funded child care for 4-year-olds across Wisconsin.

The takeaway

This new state-funded child care initiative in Wisconsin represents a significant investment in early childhood education and a step towards making child care more accessible and affordable for families. By covering tuition costs, the program aims to ease the financial burden on parents and ensure more children are prepared for school.