Strategies for Financing Quality Preschool: The Wisconsin Model

Wisconsin State Superintendent of Public Instruction

Elizabeth Burmaster

Governors Forum on Quality PreschoolPresented by NGA Center for Best Practices

December 15-16, 2003Orlando, Florida

Topics

• History of Four-Year-Old Kindergarten (4K)

• Children Served

• Financing Model

• Program Requirements

• Community Approaches

• Issues and Benefits

• Political Considerations

History: A Constitutional Commitment to Early Education• Wisconsin made a constitutional commitment

to early education in 1848

• Article X of the State Constitution called for school districts to “be as nearly uniform as practicable and free to all children between the ages of 4 and 20 years”

• Wisconsin is one of three states that maintains state funding for 4K

History of Wisconsin’s Four-Year-Old kindergarten• 1856 – First private kindergarten (two-, three-, four-,

and five-year-olds)

• 1927 – State financial aids established for 4K

• 1957 – State funding for 4K programs repealed

• 1984 – State funding for 4K renewed

• 1991 – 4K allowed 20% time for parent outreach

• 2003 – 42% of school districts operate 4K

Wisconsin 4K in 2003

• Universal but “optional”

• Shared commitment:

two-thirds state funding

one-third local funds

• Promotes community approaches

Recent Legislative Action• 2001 – Legislature voted to reduce funding

for districts operating 4K programs. Former Republican Governor McCallum vetoed these provisions.

• 2003 – Legislature again voted to cut funding for districts operating 4K programs. Current Democratic Governor Doyle vetoed these provisions.

Children Served

• 23% of four-year-olds attend 4K in 42% of state’s school districts

• 16,000 children served by 180 of Wisconsin’s 426 school districts

• 1,000 children are served by approximately 80 private schools in Milwaukee Parental Choice Program

• 250 children are served in nine Milwaukee charter schools

Kindergarten Availability• When offered, kindergarten must be available

to all children who meet state age requirements (4 years old by September 1).

• Public schools are required to offer at least half day to all 5-year-olds.

• Over 90% of Wisconsin public schools offer full-day 5K.

• School districts have the option of offering 4K.

Revenue Estimates 2002-03 Wisconsin school districts generated an

estimated $65 million in state revenues for 4K programs

• $44 million in state revenue

• $21 million in local revenue

State Funding Formula

• Based on student enrollment

• State formula counts a pupil as 0.5 full-time equivalent in membership aid if program operates:

a minimum of 437 hours per year

or

175 days, 2 1/2 hours per day

Wisconsin’s Formula—Includes Family Best Practices

• A school district may receive 0.6 FTE in membership aid if it provides 87.5 additional hours of family activities in addition to the 437 hours of center-based programming (per year)

Program Requirements• All 4K teachers must have a bachelor’s

degree and an early childhood level license from the Department of Public Instruction

Wisconsin Statutes Require• Reading and language arts

• Mathematics

• Social studies

• Science

• Curriculum specials – music, physical education, art, etc.

• Transportation

• Special education and related services

Wisconsin: A Local Control State• 4K is universal but “optional”

• Local school boards determine:

Class size

Student-teacher ratio

Early entrance policies

Curriculum

Community Approach:Engaging the Stakeholders• Business and civic organizations

• Schools

• Child care

• Head Start

• Parents

• Recreation

• Other programs—Title I, special education, etc.

Community Approach Families and their children may have

options from a variety of settings:School buildingsCommunity sitesAt-home support

Program Delivery:

Traditional School-Based Model School district 4K teacher

2.5 hour program Four or five days a week

Potential for wrap-around services or transportation to after-school programs

Program Delivery:

Community Models Community sites must have licensed

teacher School district hires and pays the teacher

in the community setting A private program can hire and provide the

teacher under a district contract Statutory school requirements apply

Community Approach:

At-Home Support When parents want their four-year-old

to stay at home: Parents are linked to educational

activities and/or parenting programs Children are not counted for state

reimbursement

Issues

• Competition between programs

• Stand-alone programs result in children moving from program to program

• Half-day programs may not meet the needs of working parents

Ongoing Needs for Collaboration

• Quality of curriculum in all settings

• Quality of teachers

• Developed model early learning standards

• Improved access to preservice programs

Benefits ofWisconsin 4K Funding• More stable funding source

• Community perspective — “common school for the common good”

• Provides equity—available to all children in a community

• Affordable to parents

Additional Benefits

• Teachers with a bachelor’s or higher degree in early childhood education

• Constant/stable workforce; better for children

• Increased access to support services and resources

Political Considerations• Competition: 4K vs. child care centers

• Conflicting values on role of family and government

• Investment in early education as budget priority

• Strong educational leadership by governor