Child care access program
Wis. Stat. § 49.1335
in effect(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.
(2)
(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:
1. Launch an online software platform that is linked to the department’s website to connect child care providers with child care workers.
2. Build child care capacity in this state.
(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.
(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:
(a) Technical assistance to support child care providers with starting and sustaining high quality child care businesses.
(b) Recruitment of child care providers and child care slots in areas of need.
(c) Training and information about regulatory compliance and continuing education for child care providers.
(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.
(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.
Source: WI Statutes (Official Site)URL: https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/document/statutes/49.1335Fetched: 10/7/2026