New Report Highlights the Urgent Need to Support ECE in Milwaukee
At the onset of COVID, early childhood education (ECE) was seen as a cornerstone of the community, remaining open to provide critical support to essential workers. Yet in the aftermath of the pandemic, support and funding have waned, leaving the sector in a precarious position.
Milwaukee Succeeds’ new report, titled Building Foundations, explores the current challenges – and opportunities – surrounding Milwaukee’s ECE sector. This report aims to reignite the conversation around ECE, emphasizing its crucial role not only for our children but also for the broader economy and social fabric of the city.
A Public Good
ECE is more than just a stepping stone for our youngest learners – it’s a powerful tool for both children and families, with benefits that extend for generations.
For children, ECE is the bedrock of their future success. High-quality programs are crucial in supporting early development, laying the groundwork for decreased special education placement and grade retention, increased high school graduation rates, and reduced rates of criminal activity. Even their future children reap the benefits, with decreased suspension, addiction and arrest rates.
“High-quality ECE is not only addressing key areas of development when children are young,” says Kristin Kappelman, Milwaukee Succeeds’ director of research, “but also leading to great economic and social gains as they get older and have children of their own.”
Yimma Davila Castro, an early educator and ECE manager for Milwaukee Succeeds, has seen such success stories firsthand. In one particular case, ECE helped a headstrong girl find her footing and overcome some potentially challenging behaviors.
“She has since started K4 at a Spanish immersion school and is thriving,” Yimma reports. “She is the leader of her class and already knows everything the teacher is guiding them through. She has self-management skills, can handle her emotions and is helpful to others.”
ECE is equally beneficial for working parents, particularly mothers, allowing them to remain in the workforce while boosting productivity and helping them pursue their own career goals. It also provides parents with a community, resources and a critical understanding of child development, adds Yimma.
“We need to shift our perspective on early childhood education from being viewed merely as a personal or family issue to recognizing it as a societal good,” explains Samantha Reynoso, Milwaukee Succeeds’ ECE data analyst. “High-quality ECE not only delivers a 13% return on investment, but also positively impacts multiple generations. If we truly want to transform outcomes for future generations, it's essential that we invest in ECE.”
The Cost of Underfunding ECE
Despite its undeniable benefits, ECE remains grossly underfunded. Wisconsin has historically invested just enough to secure federal funding, spending a mere $143 per child under five each year. In stark contrast, the state spends $125 per person per day on incarceration.
This disparity highlights a troubling trend: while we invest heavily in punitive measures, we fail to support foundational services that build a brighter future for our children and communities.
This chronic underfunding contributes to the exorbitant costs of child care for families. In Milwaukee, the annual cost of infant care for one child is an astounding $18,110 – over a third of the median household income. To put that in perspective, ECE in Milwaukee costs 102% more than in-state tuition for a four-year public college and 54% more than the average annual rent.
This financial strain forces many families to make difficult decisions, with some parents being compelled to leave the workforce entirely. The impact on working women is particularly stark, with 42% of mothers in Wisconsin either cutting back on hours or quitting their jobs entirely because of child care costs.
A Broken Business Model
“One of the biggest misconceptions around ECE is that because parents face a high cost of care, that results in early educators or programs lining their pockets,” shares Samantha. “The reality is that no one is getting rich off of ECE. It is a broken business model.”
While parents are paying more than they can afford, the funds are barely enough to cover the operating costs of most ECE programs. Meanwhile, early educators, who are crucial to the development of our children, are paid nearly minimum wage and often lack basic benefits.
In Milwaukee, group early educators earn an average of just $13/hour. These dedicated individuals – primarily women of color – could earn more by walking dogs, styling hair or working in an Amazon warehouse. Despite their commitment, many educators are finding themselves questioning the long-term feasibility of staying in the field.
“The limited funds and the lack of bonuses are making it challenging for programs to retain employees,” explains Yimma.
In fact, with 78% of Milwaukee’s ECE programs reporting staffing shortages, many programs have had to close classrooms or reduce hours, creating longer waitlists and serving fewer children. The result is a vicious cycle where low pay and lack of benefits leads to high turnover, exacerbating the shortage and further limiting access for families.
"If the broken business model isn't addressed, families will be unable to pay for care, which means parents, mainly women, will drop from the workforce," Samantha explains. "Early educators, mainly Black and Brown women, will continue to bear the burden until they are forced to leave the profession. This will shrink the workforce and further diminish the availability and affordability of care.”
Fueling Change
Milwaukee Succeeds is actively working to address these issues. In collaboration with parents, providers and the larger public, we’re committed to making early childhood education more affordable – and more accessible – for families across the city, while also supporting the ECE workforce. Our diverse ECE Coalition and talented ECE Ambassadors are driving this work forward, amplifying the call for greater support for the ECE sector.
Yet in this work, every voice matters. If you’d like to add yours to the cause, here are a few ways to get involved:
Spread the Word: Taking action can be as simple as talking to your family, friends or colleagues. The more people know about ECE, the better equipped they’ll be to take action.
Join the MKE ECE Coalition: Meet once a month with like-minded parents and partners to discuss the current challenges facing the sector and help brainstorm solutions.
Advocate on Behalf of ECE: Contact your legislators and tell them why ECE is important to you – and why increased funding is so critical. “Early childhood education needs to be funded like the public good that it is,” explains Kristin. “ECE is critical for everyone, even if you don't have children. With a sustained, long-term investment into ECE, particularly from the government, so much financial pressure will be taken off of our providers.”
Employers also play a crucial role in supporting the sector. Simply starting a conversation with their employees can go a long way, opening a dialogue about the impact and challenges surrounding ECE. Employers can also use their positions to urge legislators to support ECE programs.
“Ultimately, I hope this report influences legislators to hear these concerns and take action to fund ECE and improve access to affordable, high-quality ECE for all families,” shares Samantha.
