February 8, 2010

 

 

Mayor David Cieslewicz

City of Madison

210 MLK, Jr. Blvd., Room 403

Madison, WI  53703-3342

 

 

Dear Mayor Cieslewicz,

 

On January 22, 2010, Secretary Reggie Bicha announced an exciting initiative of the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families: YoungStar, Wisconsin’s child care rating program. For many years, the child care community has worked toward the goal of a quality rating and improvement system for child care providers, and the goal is now within reach. In the next few weeks, Secretary Bicha will submit the final plans for YoungStar to the Joint Finance Committee for approval.

 

In its most recent meeting, the Early Childhood Care and Education Committee unanimously voted to request that the City of Madison lobby the members of Joint Finance for approval of the plan. It will be beneficial to the children of the state, the child care community as a whole, and to Madison’s accredited providers in particular.

 

Briefly, YoungStar proposes a five-star rating system for child care providers to go into effect in 2011. Programs will be assessed on quality indicators in four areas: 1) educational qualifications of teaching and administrative staff, 2) the learning environment and curriculum, 3) professional practices, and 4) the health and well-being of all the children served. Based on the number of points earned from the assessments, the providers will (or will not) be eligible to enroll children in Wisconsin Shares and may receive Wisconsin Shares payments ranging from the current levels to a 25% increment above current levels for the highest quality (5-star) care. On February 2, Secretary Bicha indicated that accredited providers, including those accredited by the City of Madison, will automatically be granted 5-star status. He also indicated that the 25% increment for 5-star quality would apply to family child care providers and centers alike.

 

This higher reimbursement level will better support Madison Accredited providers who currently commit to quality childcare as reflected in their higher education levels, developmentally appropriate curriculum, supportive interactions and partnership with parents.

 

YoungStar deserves our City’s full support. Increasing reimbursement levels based on quality gives providers and incentive to increase the quality of their care. Moreover, the increased support for high quality providers gives them more financial stability and an incentive to offer quality care to those children who need it most, the kids whose parents have the lowest incomes. Tying quality assessment to Wisconsin Shares reimbursement will also help the State manage the problems of fraud and abuse that have crept into the Wisconsin Shares program.

 

YoungStar gives the State of Wisconsin an opportunity to follow the City of Madison’s lead. The Office of Child Care has promoted high quality for decades; it is in the City’s and the State’s best interest to see that work pay off for the benefit of all of Wisconsin’s children. We strongly encourage the City to support this proposal before Joint Finance.

 

Thank you.

 

 

Very truly yours,

 

 

 

Joanne Brown, Chair

Early Childhood Care and Education Committee

 

cc:        Bill Clingan

            Jolene Ibeling

            Members, ECCEC