Final budget ups funding for some childhood programs

Gov. Tony Evers' 2019-'21 budget included a host of child-focused initiatives, including additional spending for childhood education and childcare — as he promised on the campaign trail.

But Republicans who control the state Legislature didn't sign off on everything. 

A plan to provide grants for childhood education, summer school and teacher certification in urban school districts didn't escape the chopping block, nor did Evers' push to count 4-year-old kindergarten students for state aid and revenue purposes.

According to Evers' veto message, the final budget he signed into law provides more than $85 million through 2021 to fund increases in the Wisconsin Shares childcare program and $1.4 million to improve childcare options in Milwaukee's struggling 53206 zip code.

Evers' staff didn't identify any spending increases for early childhood education, which was also part of this promise. But this promise didn't have a timeframe, so he could still fulfill that promise in the second budget of his term.

That leaves our rating as In the Works.