Gov. Tony Evers hasn't had much luck since he took office in persuading Republicans who control the state Legislature to adopt his proposals for early childhood education.
His first budget proposal provided $85 million to fund increases in the Wisconsin Shares childcare program and a little over $1 million to improve child care options in one Milwaukee ZIP code. But Republicans rejected his efforts to provide grants for childhood education, summer school and teacher certification in urban school districts.
They also blocked his push to count 4-year-old kindergarten students for state aid and revenue purposes.
This budget cycle, Evers' Child Care Strong initiative would have put about $106 million toward child care quality improvement programs that would have provided monthly payments to providers that are certified, licensed or established by a school board. He also included more than $3 million to fund social emotional learning for young children, which helps kids develop skills to manage their emotions and attitudes.
Republicans on the Joint Finance Committee chopped both from the budget.
They did agree on nearly $100 million in Temporary Assistance for Needy Families over the next two fiscal years, which Evers said in his veto message would make child care more affordable and accessible for parents.
And Evers did commit more than $130 million in CARES Act money to childcare and early childhood education last fall, including $50 million for Child Care Counts, a program to distribute federal relief money to child care providers.
So although he didn't see all that he wanted in the budget for early childhood education, funds did come from elsewhere. And with these ratings, we focus on the outcome.
We rate this Promise Kept.