strategies for financing quality preschool: the wisconsin model
DESCRIPTION
Strategies for Financing Quality Preschool: The Wisconsin Model. Wisconsin State Superintendent of Public Instruction Elizabeth Burmaster. Governors Forum on Quality Preschool Presented by NGA Center for Best Practices December 15-16, 2003 Orlando, Florida. Topics. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
![Page 1: Strategies for Financing Quality Preschool: The Wisconsin Model](https://reader033.vdocument.in/reader033/viewer/2022042718/568134b1550346895d9bcd47/html5/thumbnails/1.jpg)
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
![Page 2: Strategies for Financing Quality Preschool: The Wisconsin Model](https://reader033.vdocument.in/reader033/viewer/2022042718/568134b1550346895d9bcd47/html5/thumbnails/2.jpg)
Topics
• History of Four-Year-Old Kindergarten (4K)
• Children Served
• Financing Model
• Program Requirements
• Community Approaches
• Issues and Benefits
• Political Considerations
![Page 3: Strategies for Financing Quality Preschool: The Wisconsin Model](https://reader033.vdocument.in/reader033/viewer/2022042718/568134b1550346895d9bcd47/html5/thumbnails/3.jpg)
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
![Page 4: Strategies for Financing Quality Preschool: The Wisconsin Model](https://reader033.vdocument.in/reader033/viewer/2022042718/568134b1550346895d9bcd47/html5/thumbnails/4.jpg)
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• 1957 – State funding for 4K programs repealed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
![Page 5: Strategies for Financing Quality Preschool: The Wisconsin Model](https://reader033.vdocument.in/reader033/viewer/2022042718/568134b1550346895d9bcd47/html5/thumbnails/5.jpg)
Wisconsin 4K in 2003
• Universal but “optional”
• Shared commitment:
two-thirds state funding
one-third local funds
• Promotes community approaches
![Page 6: Strategies for Financing Quality Preschool: The Wisconsin Model](https://reader033.vdocument.in/reader033/viewer/2022042718/568134b1550346895d9bcd47/html5/thumbnails/6.jpg)
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.
![Page 7: Strategies for Financing Quality Preschool: The Wisconsin Model](https://reader033.vdocument.in/reader033/viewer/2022042718/568134b1550346895d9bcd47/html5/thumbnails/7.jpg)
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
![Page 8: Strategies for Financing Quality Preschool: The Wisconsin Model](https://reader033.vdocument.in/reader033/viewer/2022042718/568134b1550346895d9bcd47/html5/thumbnails/8.jpg)
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.
![Page 9: Strategies for Financing Quality Preschool: The Wisconsin Model](https://reader033.vdocument.in/reader033/viewer/2022042718/568134b1550346895d9bcd47/html5/thumbnails/9.jpg)
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
![Page 10: Strategies for Financing Quality Preschool: The Wisconsin Model](https://reader033.vdocument.in/reader033/viewer/2022042718/568134b1550346895d9bcd47/html5/thumbnails/10.jpg)
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
![Page 11: Strategies for Financing Quality Preschool: The Wisconsin Model](https://reader033.vdocument.in/reader033/viewer/2022042718/568134b1550346895d9bcd47/html5/thumbnails/11.jpg)
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)
![Page 12: Strategies for Financing Quality Preschool: The Wisconsin Model](https://reader033.vdocument.in/reader033/viewer/2022042718/568134b1550346895d9bcd47/html5/thumbnails/12.jpg)
Program Requirements• All 4K teachers must have a bachelor’s
degree and an early childhood level license from the Department of Public Instruction
![Page 13: Strategies for Financing Quality Preschool: The Wisconsin Model](https://reader033.vdocument.in/reader033/viewer/2022042718/568134b1550346895d9bcd47/html5/thumbnails/13.jpg)
Wisconsin Statutes Require• Reading and language arts
• Mathematics
• Social studies
• Science
• Curriculum specials – music, physical education, art, etc.
• Transportation
• Special education and related services
![Page 14: Strategies for Financing Quality Preschool: The Wisconsin Model](https://reader033.vdocument.in/reader033/viewer/2022042718/568134b1550346895d9bcd47/html5/thumbnails/14.jpg)
Wisconsin: A Local Control State• 4K is universal but “optional”
• Local school boards determine:
Class size
Student-teacher ratio
Early entrance policies
Curriculum
![Page 15: Strategies for Financing Quality Preschool: The Wisconsin Model](https://reader033.vdocument.in/reader033/viewer/2022042718/568134b1550346895d9bcd47/html5/thumbnails/15.jpg)
Community Approach:Engaging the Stakeholders• Business and civic organizations
• Schools
• Child care
• Head Start
• Parents
• Recreation
• Other programs—Title I, special education, etc.
![Page 16: Strategies for Financing Quality Preschool: The Wisconsin Model](https://reader033.vdocument.in/reader033/viewer/2022042718/568134b1550346895d9bcd47/html5/thumbnails/16.jpg)
Community Approach Families and their children may have
options from a variety of settings:School buildingsCommunity sitesAt-home support
![Page 17: Strategies for Financing Quality Preschool: The Wisconsin Model](https://reader033.vdocument.in/reader033/viewer/2022042718/568134b1550346895d9bcd47/html5/thumbnails/17.jpg)
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
![Page 18: Strategies for Financing Quality Preschool: The Wisconsin Model](https://reader033.vdocument.in/reader033/viewer/2022042718/568134b1550346895d9bcd47/html5/thumbnails/18.jpg)
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
![Page 19: Strategies for Financing Quality Preschool: The Wisconsin Model](https://reader033.vdocument.in/reader033/viewer/2022042718/568134b1550346895d9bcd47/html5/thumbnails/19.jpg)
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
![Page 20: Strategies for Financing Quality Preschool: The Wisconsin Model](https://reader033.vdocument.in/reader033/viewer/2022042718/568134b1550346895d9bcd47/html5/thumbnails/20.jpg)
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
![Page 21: Strategies for Financing Quality Preschool: The Wisconsin Model](https://reader033.vdocument.in/reader033/viewer/2022042718/568134b1550346895d9bcd47/html5/thumbnails/21.jpg)
Ongoing Needs for Collaboration
• Quality of curriculum in all settings
• Quality of teachers
• Developed model early learning standards
• Improved access to preservice programs
![Page 22: Strategies for Financing Quality Preschool: The Wisconsin Model](https://reader033.vdocument.in/reader033/viewer/2022042718/568134b1550346895d9bcd47/html5/thumbnails/22.jpg)
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
![Page 23: Strategies for Financing Quality Preschool: The Wisconsin Model](https://reader033.vdocument.in/reader033/viewer/2022042718/568134b1550346895d9bcd47/html5/thumbnails/23.jpg)
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
![Page 24: Strategies for Financing Quality Preschool: The Wisconsin Model](https://reader033.vdocument.in/reader033/viewer/2022042718/568134b1550346895d9bcd47/html5/thumbnails/24.jpg)
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