Khalyl Mosley listens closely as Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers reads “The Rabbit Listens” when he visited Acelero Learning in Racine, one of three Head Start child care providers he toured in Wisconsin Monday, February 10.(Photo by Mark Hertzberg for Racine County Eye/republished by permission. Not available for republication.)
This report is republished by agreement with the Racine County Eye, where it originally appeared.
RACINE — Governor Tony Evers visited Acelero Learning, a Head Start program in Racine, on Monday, observing classrooms and meeting with staff while raising concerns about the potential consequences of federal funding cuts to early childhood education.
His visit was the last of a statewide swing to highlight the importance of the state’s Child Care Counts program and the vital role that affordable child care plays in Wisconsin’s economy.
Evers’ visit followed a week in which a number of Wisconsin Head Start programs reported they were unable to collect grant funds they had been awarded from the federal payment system. Head Start provides early education and child care for children from low-income families, many of whom are working.
On Monday, Jenny Mauer, executive director of the Wisconsin Head Start Association, said programs that made draws from the federal portal last week that were not fulfilled have now received their funding. “We are waiting to see how things go this week,” Mauer told the Wisconsin Examiner.
During his Racine visit, Evers stressed that programs like Head Start are essential not just for children’s development but also for keeping families economically secure. He warned that without reliable funding, both child care staff and the families they serve could face serious economic hardship.
“This program has been here for 60 years, and there is bipartisan agreement that it’s needed and it works,” Evers told Acelero Learning staff after his tour of the facility. “But there’s no guarantee it’s going to be here much longer if Congress doesn’t act. We’re already seeing delays and funding freezes as they try to decide whether the program works — it does.”
Staff at Acelero Learning shared with Evers how federal funding has helped them recover from pandemic-related setbacks. Initially forced to reduce classroom capacity and staff, the program was able to reopen classrooms and raise wages with federal support.
Still, the threat of further cuts looms large. Federal funding made it possible to pay infant and toddler teachers livable wages, which has been crucial for attracting and retaining qualified candidates.
A growing crisis for families and the economy
The potential closure of Head Start programs could have far-reaching economic consequences. Thousands of child care staff could lose their jobs, while parents—especially those in low-income households—may be forced to leave the workforce if they have to pay for the rising cost of full-pay child care.
Evers framed the issue as both an economic and social crisis, pointing out that child care is often the deciding factor for families with two working parents.
“If mom and dad both want to work, they need reliable, affordable child care. Otherwise, someone is staying home, and that hurts families and businesses,” Evers said.
Economic implications of losing Head Start
A recent report from ReadyNation found that nearly a quarter of parents who lost access to steady child care were fired from their jobs as a result. In rural areas, where Head Start programs represent a significant portion of child care options, the situation is even more dire.
Job loss for child care staff: Head Start programs employ thousands of teachers, aides, and support staff. If the program is defunded, staff could find positions with local school districts, but many could face permanent job loss, further weakening the already fragile child care workforce.
Reduced workforce participation: Parents who rely on affordable child care to stay employed could face having to leave their jobs if they can’t afford full-pay child care, leading to reduced family income and increased financial strain.
A survey by ReadyNation found that 23% of parents reported being fired from their jobs due to the lack of stable child care options.
Increased financial burden on families: Without subsidized care, families could see child care expenses consume a significant portion of their income.
In some areas, Jeff Pertl noted during the governor’s visit, child care costs already represent up to 24% of the median household income, making it difficult for families to manage other essential expenses like rent and food. Pertl is secretary-designess of the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families.
Disproportionate impact on rural communities: A report from the Center for American Progress lists rural Head Start programs as up to 22% of the overall child care supply in rural areas. Losing these programs would worsen an already severe shortage and stifle economic growth.
Slowed economic growth: With fewer parents able to work, local businesses may face a shortage of employees, further slowing regional economic growth.
The loss of reliable child care disrupts productivity, as parents are forced to juggle work and child care or drop out of the workforce entirely.
Wider social impact on children: Beyond economics, cutting Head Start would reduce access to early learning opportunities for tens of thousands of children. These early experiences are crucial for long-term educational success and overall development.
Tanya Wooden from the Wisconsin Early Childhood Association points to the science to support why early childhood education is so important. “Nearly 80% of brain development happens before the age of three, so supporting early childhood education now tells the story for later,” she said. “What do you want the future to look like?”
Evers talks about limited state options
When asked whether the state could reallocate federal funds to fill gaps if Head Start funding disappears, Evers said Wisconsin’s pandemic relief funds have already been exhausted.
“We don’t have any extra federal funds left from the pandemic to shift toward these programs,” he explained. “It’s on Congress to act. They own this issue.”
He encouraged Wisconsin residents to hold their congressional representatives accountable, particularly Republican lawmakers.
“We have several Republican members of Congress in this state. They need to do their jobs and ensure that programs like Head Start continue.”
Pertl joined Evers in calling for swift action, emphasizing the potential fallout if Congress fails to act.
“If Congress defunds Head Start, tens of thousands of children across Wisconsin will lose their child care,” Pertl said. “This crisis is already severe, and that would pour gasoline on the fire. We can’t let that happen.”
Securing Wisconsin’s future
Despite the uncertainty at the federal level, Evers reaffirmed his commitment to supporting early childhood education in Wisconsin.
He has proposed a $480 million budget for the Child Care Counts program over the next two years to stabilize the sector and support working families.
“This is our future,” Evers said. “We can’t abandon 60 years of quality early education. We’re going to have to fight for it every day, but it’s worth it — for the kids, for families, and for our state’s economy.”
Erik Gunn of the Wisconsin Examiner contributed to this report.
Reports republished from Racine County Eye are not available for republishing elsewhere.
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