By Lynda L. Jones
Governor Jim Doyle has a reason to smile this week, as his vision on child care reform continues to move in the direction that he has hoped. The governor has spoken on many child care changes over the past few years, one being a rating system, and a central location that would give parents and caregivers a place to go to and review daycare centers.
On Monday, Aug. 9, Department of Children and Families (DCF) Secretary Reggie Bicha announced $1.5 million in funding to provide training and technical …

Unity Caucus and Senator Taylor present summit with DCF and local officials
Compiled by Courier Staff
Senator Lena C. Taylor (D) Milwaukee) this week announced a child care summit to take place Saturday, February 27th in Milwaukee. The summit will offer advice ranging from how to open a daycare center to questions about receiving micro-loans. In addition, information about Wisconsin Act 76, the recent changes to the Wisconsin Shares Program, will be shared and discussed.
The summit’s objective is to offer advice on not only various concerns that might occur in operating a …

Governor Jim Doyle announced last week details on a new five-star quality rating and improvement system for child care in Wisconsin. The program, YoungStar, will help improve the quality of child care, link provider quality to payments from the Wisconsin Shares program, and help guide parents in choosing a provider.
“Today, we are taking another major step forward to improve child care in Wisconsin, link quality to state payments and give working parents peace of mind that their kids are at a quality child care center,” Governor Doyle said. “Research shows …

The following is a statement released by Common Council president Willie J.. Hines, Jr.
For several years, the State of Wisconsin and Milwaukee County have overseen and administered Early Childhood Education (ECE) in our city. This includes licensed group child care centers, licensed family child care centers and certified family daycares. The City of Milwaukee, as a government entity, has had essentially no role or responsibility in ensuring that regulated childcare settings are of the highest quality – not to mention safe – for our constituents and their children.
It is my …