Chapter 49

49.132(4)(d) (d) The number of spaces available with the child care provider for children participating in the program under this section.

49.132(5) (5) Funding.

49.132(5)(a) (a)

49.132(5)(a)1. 1. Except as provided in subd. 2., from the appropriation under s. 20.437 (2) (cr), for each child participating in an elementary school readiness program offered by a child care provider under this section, the department shall pay to the child care provider participating in the program under this section 0.6 times the sum of the revenue ceiling, as defined in s. 121.905 (1), for the current school year and the per pupil amount under s. 115.437 (2) (a) for the current school year.

49.132(5)(a)2. 2. If the appropriation under s. 20.437 (2) (cr) is insufficient to pay the full amount of costs under subd. 1., the department shall prorate payments among the participating child care providers under this section.

49.132(5)(b) (b) The department shall pay 25 percent of the total amount under par. (a) in September, 25 percent in November, 25 percent in February, and 25 percent in May. Each installment may consist of a single check for all children participating in the elementary school readiness program offered by the child care provider.

49.132(5)(c) (c) A child care provider may use payments received under this subsection to cover any costs associated with providing the program under this section. If a child is participating in the program under this section, the child care provider may charge additional amounts to provide care and supervision for that child outside of the elementary school readiness program hours.

49.132(6) (6) Teacher qualifications. A teacher who teaches in an elementary school readiness program offered by a child care provider under this section shall have an associate degree or bachelor’s degree.

49.132 History History: 2025 a. 15.

49.1335 49.1335 Child care access program.

49.1335(1) (1) In this section, “rural area” means a city, town, or village with a population of less than 10,000 or a county with a population of less than 50,000.

49.1335(2) (2) 

49.1335(2)(a) (a) The department shall award to Wonderschool, Inc., a grant of $1,000,000 from the allocation under s. 49.175 (1) (qm) in fiscal year 2025-26 and a grant of $1,000,000 from the appropriation under s. 20.437 (2) (bp) in fiscal year 2026-27 to do all of the following:

49.1335(2)(a)1. 1. Launch an online software platform that is linked to the department’s website to connect child care providers with child care workers.

49.1335(2)(a)2. 2. Build child care capacity in this state.

49.1335(2)(b) (b) Of any moneys expended to meet the requirements of par. (a) 2., at least 60 percent shall be expended to build child care capacity in rural areas.

49.1335(3) (3) From the appropriation under s. 20.437 (2) (bp), the department shall award a grant of $1,000,000 in each fiscal year 2025-26 and 2026-27 to Supporting Families Together Association that it shall use to provide funding to child care resource and referral agencies for services that build child care capacity and increase access to quality child care in this state, including all of the following:

49.1335(3)(a) (a) Technical assistance to support child care providers with starting and sustaining high quality child care businesses.

49.1335(3)(b) (b) Recruitment of child care providers and child care slots in areas of need.

49.1335(3)(c) (c) Training and information about regulatory compliance and continuing education for child care providers.

49.1335(3)(d) (d) Any other information or support that increases availability of and access to quality child care services in individual communities on the basis of needs assessed by the child care resource and referral agency.

49.1335(4) (4) No later than May 1, 2027, the department shall submit a report to the joint committee on finance on the outcomes of the grants under this section on child care capacity in this state.

Effective date note NOTE: This section is repealed eff. 7-1-27 by 2025 Wis. Act 15.

49.1335 History History: 2025 a. 15.

49.134 49.134 Child care resource and referral service grants.

49.134(1) (1) Definitions. In this section:

49.134(1)(a) (a) “Indian tribe” means a federally recognized American Indian tribe or band in this state.

49.134(1)(b) (b) “Local agency” means a nonprofit, tax-exempt corporation or an Indian tribe that provides or proposes to provide child care resource and referral services that are funded under this section.

49.134(1)(c) (c) “Nonprofit, tax-exempt corporation” means a nonstock corporation organized under ch. 181 that is a nonprofit corporation, as defined in s. 181.0103 (17), and that is exempt from taxation under section 501 (c) of the internal revenue code.

49.134(2) (2) Resource and referral service grants.

49.134(2)(a) (a) From the allocation under s. 49.155 (1g), the department shall make grants to local agencies to fund child care resource and referral services provided by those local agencies. The department shall provide an allocation formula to determine the amount of a grant awarded under this section.

49.134(2)(c) (c) A local agency that is awarded a grant under this section shall contribute matching funds equal to 25 percent of the amount awarded under this section. The match may be in the form of money or in-kind goods or services, or both.

49.134(2)(d) (d) The department may award a grant under this section to a local agency only if that local agency meets any of the following requirements:

49.134(2)(d)1. 1. The local agency is solely in the business of providing child care resource and referral services.

49.134(2)(d)2. 2. If the local agency provides services, or is affiliated with a person who provides services, other than child care resource and referral services, the local agency, or the person with whom the local agency is affiliated, is not a provider of child care services or of early childhood education services and the local agency has an advisory committee to provide oversight for the portion of the local agency’s services that are child care resource and referral services.

49.134(3) (3) Use of grant funds.

49.134(3)(a) (a) A local agency that is awarded a grant under this section may use the funds to provide any of the following services:

49.134(3)(a)1. 1. Technical assistance and support to child care providers.

49.134(3)(a)2. 2. Recruitment of child care providers in areas of need.

49.134(3)(a)3. 3. Information on the child care service options that are available in the community served by the local agency.

49.134(3)(a)4. 4. A data resource file that identifies the child care service options that are available in the community served by the local agency and that documents the requests and needs of parents in that community for child care services.

49.134(3)(a)5. 5. Programs or information on continuing education and training for child care providers.

49.134(3)(a)6. 6. Any other information regarding the availability and quality of child care services in the community served by the local agency.

49.134(3)(b) (b) A local agency that is awarded a grant under this section may not use the funds to supplant any other funds that the local agency uses to provide child care resource and referral services at the time of the awarding of the grant.

49.134(4) (4) Department responsibilities. The department shall do all of the following:

49.134(4)(a) (a) Administer, or contract for the administration of, the grant program under this section, provide an application procedure for that program and disburse funds awarded under that program.

49.134(4)(b) (b) Provide consultation and technical assistance to local agencies in the preparation of grant applications and the operation of child care resource and referral services programs funded under this section.

49.134(4)(c) (c) Monitor the child care resource and referral services provided by a grant recipient.

49.134 History History: 1991 a. 275; 1993 a. 16; 1995 a. 27; 1995 a. 404 ss. 123 to 129; Stats. 1995 s. 49.134; 1997 a. 27, 79; 2005 a. 25; 2007 a. 20.

49.136 49.136 Child care start-up and expansion.

49.136(1) (1) Definitions. In this section:

49.136(1)(ad) (ad) “Child care center” means a facility operated by a child care provider that provides care and supervision for 4 or more children under 7 years of age for less than 24 hours a day.

49.136(1)(am) (am) “Child care program” means a program established and provided by a school board under s. 120.13 (14) or purchased by a school board from a provider licensed under s. 48.65, which combines care for a child who resides with a student parent who is a parent of that child with parenting education and experience for that student parent.

49.136(1)(b) (b) “Child care provider” means a provider licensed under s. 48.65, certified under s. 48.651 or established or contracted for under s. 120.13 (14).

49.136(1)(g) (g) “Employer” means a person who engages the services of an employee, and includes the state, its political subdivisions and any office, department, independent agency, authority, institution, association, society or other body in state or local government created or authorized to be created by the constitution or any law, including the courts and the legislature.

49.136(1)(j) (j) “Family child care center” means a child care center that provides care and supervision for not less than 4 nor more than 8 children.

49.136(1)(k) (k) “Group child care center” means a child care center that provides care and supervision for 9 or more children.

49.136(1)(m) (m) “Parent” means a parent, guardian, foster parent, legal custodian, or a person acting in the place of a parent.

49.136(1)(n) (n) “Student parent” means a pupil who is enrolled in a middle school, junior high school or senior high school and who is a parent.

49.136(2) (2) Start-up and expansion.

49.136(2)(a) (a) From the allocation under s. 49.155 (1g), the department may award grants for the start-up or expansion of child care services.

49.136(2)(b) (b) If the department awards grants under this section, the department shall attempt to award the grants to head start agencies designated under 42 USC 9836, employers that provide or wish to provide child care services for their employees, family child care centers, group child care centers and child care programs for the children of student parents, organizations that provide child care for sick children, and child care providers that employ participants or former participants in a Wisconsin Works employment position under s. 49.147 (3) to (5).

49.136(2)(cm) (cm) A person who is awarded a grant under this subsection shall contribute matching funds equal to 25 percent of the amount awarded under this subsection. The match may be in the form of money or in-kind goods or services, or both.

49.136(6) (6) Limit on expenditure of funds. No funds provided under this section may be used for the purchase or improvement of land or for the purchase, construction or permanent improvement, other than minor remodeling, of any building or facility.

49.136(7) (7) Grant administration.

49.136(7)(a) (a) The department shall establish guidelines for eligibility for a grant under this section. The department need not promulgate those guidelines as rules under ch. 227.

49.136(7)(b) (b) The department may administer the grant application process under this section or contract for the administration of that process.

49.136 History History: 1991 a. 275; 1993 a. 16; 1995 a. 27, 289; 1995 a. 404 ss. 131 to 141; Stats. 1995 s. 49.136; 1997 a. 27; 1999 a. 9; 2005 a. 25; 2007 a. 20; 2009 a. 28, 185.

49.137 49.137 Child care quality improvement.

49.137(1) (1) Definitions. In this section:

49.137(1)(ab) (ab) “Child care center” has the meaning given in s. 49.136 (1) (ad).

49.137(1)(am) (am) “Child care provider” means a provider licensed under s. 48.65, certified under s. 48.651 or established or contracted for under s. 120.13 (14).

49.137(1)(bd) (bd) “Family child care center” has the meaning given in s. 49.136 (1) (j).

49.137(1)(c) (c) “Family child care system” means a centralized administrative unit that offers technical assistance and support to a group of child care providers with the goal of improving child care services.

49.137(1)(e) (e) “Group child care center” has the meaning given in s. 49.136 (1) (k).

49.137(2) (2) Staff retention grants.

49.137(2)(a) (a) From the allocation under s. 49.155 (1g), the department may award grants to child care providers that meet the quality of care standards established under s. 49.155 (1d) to improve the retention of skilled and experienced child care staff. In awarding grants under this subsection, the department shall consider the applying child care provider’s total enrollment of children and average enrollment of children who receive or are eligible for publicly funded care from the child care provider.

49.137(2)(b) (b) A child care provider that is awarded a grant under this subsection shall contribute matching funds equal to 25 percent of the amount awarded under this subsection. The match may be in the form of money or in-kind goods or services, or both.

49.137(2)(c) (c) A child care provider that is awarded a grant under this subsection may use the funds to provide advanced training for the child care provider’s child care staff, to improve the salaries and benefits provided to the child care provider’s child care staff and to undertake other activities or projects to improve the retention of the child care provider’s child care staff.

49.137(3) (3) Quality improvement grants.

49.137(3)(a) (a) From the allocation under s. 49.155 (1g), the department may award grants to child care providers for assistance in meeting the quality of care standards established under s. 49.155 (1d).

49.137(3)(b) (b) A child care provider that is awarded a grant under this subsection shall contribute matching funds equal to 25 percent of the amount awarded under this subsection. The match may be in the form of money or in-kind goods or services, or both.

49.137(3)(c) (c) A child care provider that is awarded a grant under this subsection shall use the grant funds to attempt to meet the quality of care standards established under s. 49.132 (4) (e), 1995 stats., within 24 months after receipt of the grant.

49.137(4) (4) Training and technical assistance contracts. From the allocation under s. 49.155 (1g), the department may contract with one or more agencies for the provision of training and technical assistance to improve the quality of child care provided in this state. The training and technical assistance activities contracted for under this subsection may include any of the following activities:

49.137(4)(a) (a) Developing and recommending to the department a system of higher payment rates or a program of grants for child care providers that meet the quality of care standards established under s. 49.132 (4) (e), 1995 stats.

49.137(4)(b) (b) Developing a plan for a uniform, statewide system of career development, credentialing and training for individuals who provide child care.

49.137(4)(c) (c) Disseminating to the public information about child care that meets the quality of care standards established under s. 49.132 (4) (e), 1995 stats.

49.137(4)(d) (d) Providing informational resources to child care providers.

49.137(4)(e) (e) Providing advanced training to child care providers and the staff of child care providers.