Budget includes more funding for 4K, childcare programs

After years as the state school superintendent, Gov. Tony Evers brought his emphasis on education with him to the statehouse.

His 2018 campaign pledges included increasing spending on "early childhood education and quality childcare." And his first budget includes a couple items would address those points.

One would commit $5 million in 2021 to support the expansion and creation of early childhood programs in the state's five largest school districts. The other would change the funding formula to give the full per-student state aid to schools that provide full-day 4K programs.

Evers' budget also includes a number of items on the childcare front, including raising the maximum reimbursement rate for licensed child care providers through the Wisconsin Shares program and grants to improve overall child care in high-poverty areas.

Evers didn't promise to raise spending by any specific amount, so these are steps toward fulfilling this pledge.

With this and all other budget proposals expected to get pushback from Republicans in the Legislature, we rate this promise In the Works.