State Profiles

• Sixty-two percent of school districts offered 4K programs in the 2006-07 school year.
• Public awareness materials were developed to spread the message and promote community approaches including the 2002 Wisconsin Association of School Boards Magazine, two lessons learned publications, and a video tape highlighting the Governor and State Superintendent.
• State agencies have addressed policies and practices to promote outcomes including Department of Public Instruction policy bulletins, legislative fact sheets, and changing practices; Department of Work Force Development policy on utilization of child care subsidies; and Department of Health and Family Services policy guidance for child care licensing.
• Grassroots organizing and constituency building have mobilized community campaigns and expanded the stakeholders’ investment in the campaign public policy.
• A website and list-serve exist to inform stakeholders of recent research, events, and issues.
• Two statewide leadership conferences have brought 400 people representing more than 60 communities to the table.
• Presentations on four-year-old kindergarten and community approaches have occurred for four constituency group conferences or meetings including: the Governor’s Task Force on Educational Excellence, Early Education Committee; the Association of Wisconsin School Administrators; the Wisconsin Child Care Administrators Association; the Wisconsin Early Childhood Association, Wisconsin Education Association Council; the UW Oshkosh Early Childhood Conference; and the Wisconsin Head Start Association Conference.
• The Wisconsin Child Care Resource and Referral Network co-sponsored strategic regional activities to expand the support base within the child care/Head Start community. A strategic guide has been developed to provide a basic model for the meetings.
• A technical assistance infrastructure has utilized funding from the Trust for Early Education, the Joyce Foundation, and state agencies to provide community collaboration coaches to support early childhood regional networks.
• In the 2007-2008 school year, 68% of elementary school districts offered 4K.

Wisconsin has an elected State Superintendent of Public Instruction. The current State Superintendent, Elizabeth Burmaster, campaigned and was elected for her New Wisconsin Promise that included a focus on early learning opportunities. She convened the first state wide coalition to address 4K and has made 4K a part of her budget proposal. On the national level she is a leader for the Council of Chief State School Officers Early Education Cadre.

Governor James Doyle made a substantial commitment to 4K during his first state budget process by vetoing a proposal to reduce 4K membership aid. Since that time, 4K has been a major priority for the Governor including making early education one of three focus areas for the Governor's Task Force on Educational Excellence including 4K recommendations in the KidsFirst Agenda, and participating in National Governor's Association early education events.

Wisconsin's First Lady, Jessica Doyle, was part of the State Team attending the NGA early education meeting. She is a willing partner in promotion of 4K and other early education efforts.

Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development Secretary Roberta Gassman, and Department of Health and Family Services Secretary Helene Nelson have participated in promotional efforts and supported their departments' role in policies development.

Through the Forces for Four-Year Olds Advisory Committee, a wide variety of champions has emerged from stakeholder associations. Examples include Donna Sorensen representing the Association of Wisconsin School Administrators, David Linsmeier a child care director and Sheri Kraus from the Wisconsin Association of School Boards.

• Continue to promote recommendations from Governor's KidsFirst Initiative and Task Force on Educational Excellence during the current state budget process.
• Continue to identify and address policies that hinder and support community approaches.
• Expand efforts related to economic development including: activity to be conducted through Wisconsin Economic Development Association, a resource guide on funding community approaches, exploration of a report on economic impact in the school, and continued presentations.
• Continue to build the early childhood infrastructure by utilizing regional networks and providing technical assistance to communities through collaboration coaches.
• Continue other collaboration including promotion of the Wisconsin Model Early Learning Standards, creation of training materials, conference planning, alignment with early childhood special education efforts on inclusion, participation with Department of Health and Family Services, Early Childhood Comprehensive System grant and others.
• Seek funding to continue efforts.

Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction
Collaborating Partners
Wisconsin Council on Children and Families
Wisconsin Early Childhood Association