Universal Childcare
Childcare Shouldn’t Cost More Than College
In Wisconsin, infant care costs more than a year at UW-Madison. Fran’s fighting to change that.
Wisconsin families are being crushed by childcare costs — if they can find a spot at all. 48,000 kids are on waiting lists. 70% of rural Wisconsin is a “child care desert.” And the workers who care for our children are paid poverty wages. Meanwhile, Republicans cut state payments to childcare workers — the program ran out of funds on June 30. It doesn’t have to be this way.
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By submitting this form, you consent to receive donation asks, voter contact, and informational emails from Francesca Hong. Email frequency varies. You may unsubscribe at any time by clicking the unsubscribe link in any email. Privacy Policy & Terms.
Wisconsin’s Child Care Crisis
$12,000+
Average annual cost of Wisconsin infant care — more than a year’s tuition at UW-Madison
48,000
Wisconsin children on waiting lists for child care
70%
of rural Wisconsin is a “child care desert” — 3+ kids for every 1 licensed slot
36%
of single-parent families’ income spent on child care (should be no more than 7%)
$13
Median hourly wage for Wisconsin child care workers
26%
drop in child care workers since 2010 — because they can’t afford to stay in the profession
Universal Childcare for Wisconsin
Universal childcare benefits everyone – not just parents and kids. This is infrastructure. We fund roads and bridges because the economy can’t function without them. Childcare is no different — parents can’t work if they can’t find care. Fran’s plan treats child care as the essential public good it is.
Free or reduced childcare for families
Most Wisconsin families will pay absolutely no out-of-pocket costs for childcare. Families who make more money will see their spending capped on a sliding scale, hitting a maximum of the federal affordability standard of 7% (or lower, depending on the true cost of care).
Pay child care workers what they deserve
You can’t have universal child care if workers are fleeing the profession. Fran’s model includes increased reimbursement rates to providers and loan forgiveness programs for early childhood educators. We need to treat child care workers like the professionals they are.
Keep childcare centers open
Taking care of kids is expensive! Childcare centers exist on barebones margins and struggle to stay afloat. Fran’s universal childcare policy pegs payments to the true cost of care, because we can’t afford to shortchange our children.
Expand supply in child care deserts
70% of rural Wisconsin has nowhere near enough child care slots. Fran will invest in expanding capacity where it’s needed most — not just in cities, but in the small towns and rural communities where the shortage is most severe.
Save the Child CAre Counts program
The Child Care Counts program kept providers afloat and tuition down for families. Republicans stripped $480 million from the budget that would have continued it. On June 30, that funding expired. Fran is fighting to restore this funding and make it permanent.
Why We don’t have universal child care yet
Governor Evers proposed $480 million to continue the Child Care Counts program that was keeping providers open and costs down. At the first budget vote, Republicans on the Joint Finance Committee stripped it out — along with 600+ other priorities.
Instead of investing in child care, Republicans passed bills that:
- Give tax breaks to corporations instead of direct help to families
- Lower the age of child care workers to 16 — putting “labor on the backs of teenagers” instead of paying professionals
- Increase the number of kids per worker, reducing quality of care
Join the fight for Universal Child Care
Fran Gets it
Fran is a single mom who knows firsthand how hard it is to find affordable care while working multiple jobs. She’s not talking about this issue from a briefing book, and she’s not checking the polls to shape her policy — this is her life.
As governor, Fran will make universal childcare a top priority because she knows what it’s like to choose between work and caring for your kids.
Spread the word
Share this page with other parents in your community. The more people who speak up, the harder it is for politicians to ignore us.
Need help now?
While we fight for universal child care, here are resources that might help your family:
Head Start / Early Head Start
Free early childhood education for qualifying families.
Find a program: eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/center-locator
4-Year-Old Kindergarten (4K)
Free public pre-K available in most Wisconsin school districts.
Contact your local school district for enrollment info.
Child Care Resources & Referral
Help finding licensed child care in your area.
Join team Hong
Get email updates from Fran and the campaign team.
By submitting this form, you consent to receive donation asks, voter contact, and informational emails from Francesca Hong. Email frequency varies. You may unsubscribe at any time by clicking the unsubscribe link in any email. Privacy Policy & Terms.
Childcare Shouldn’t Cost More Than College
In Wisconsin, infant care costs more than a year at UW-Madison. Fran’s fighting to change that.
Wisconsin families are being crushed by childcare costs — if they can find a spot at all. 48,000 kids are on waiting lists. 70% of rural Wisconsin is a “child care desert.” And the workers who care for our children are paid poverty wages. Meanwhile, Republicans cut state payments to childcare workers — the program ran out of funds on June 30. It doesn’t have to be this way.
Join team Hong
Get email updates from Fran and the campaign team.
By submitting this form, you consent to receive donation asks, voter contact, and informational emails from Francesca Hong. Email frequency varies. You may unsubscribe at any time by clicking the unsubscribe link in any email. Privacy Policy & Terms.
Wisconsin’s Child Care Crisis
$12,000+
Average annual cost of Wisconsin infant care — more than a year’s tuition at UW-Madison
48,000
Wisconsin children on waiting lists for child care
70%
of rural Wisconsin is a “child care desert” — 3+ kids for every 1 licensed slot
36%
of single-parent families’ income spent on child care (should be no more than 7%)
$13
Median hourly wage for Wisconsin child care workers
26%
drop in child care workers since 2010 — because they can’t afford to stay in the profession
Universal Childcare in Wisconsin
Universal childcare benefits everyone – not just parents and kids. This is infrastructure. We fund roads and bridges because the economy can’t function without them. Childcare is no different — parents can’t work if they can’t find care. Fran’s plan treats child care as the essential public good it is.
Free or reduced childcare for families
Most Wisconsin families will pay absolutely no out-of-pocket costs for childcare. Families who make more money will see their spending capped on a sliding scale, hitting a maximum of the federal affordability standard of 7% (or lower, depending on the true cost of care).
Pay child care workers what they deserve
You can’t have universal child care if workers are fleeing the profession. Fran’s model includes increased reimbursement rates to providers and loan forgiveness programs for early childhood educators. We need to treat child care workers like the professionals they are.
Keep childcare centers open
Taking care of kids is expensive! Childcare centers exist on barebones margins and struggle to stay afloat. Fran’s universal childcare policy pegs payments to the true cost of care, because we can’t afford to shortchange our children.
Expand supply in child care deserts
70% of rural Wisconsin has nowhere near enough child care slots. Fran will invest in expanding capacity where it’s needed most — not just in cities, but in the small towns and rural communities where the shortage is most severe.
Save the Child CAre Counts program
The Child Care Counts program kept providers afloat and tuition down for families. Republicans stripped $480 million from the budget that would have continued it. On June 30, that funding expired. Fran is fighting to restore this funding and make it permanent.
Why we Don’t have Universal Child care yet
Governor Evers proposed $480 million to continue the Child Care Counts program that was keeping providers open and costs down. At the first budget vote, Republicans on the Joint Finance Committee stripped it out — along with 600+ other priorities.
Instead of investing in child care, Republicans passed bills that:
- Give tax breaks to corporations instead of direct help to families
- Lower the age of child care workers to 16 — putting “labor on the backs of teenagers” instead of paying professionals
- Increase the number of kids per worker, reducing quality of care
Join the fight for Universal Child Care
Fran Gets it
Fran is a single mom who knows firsthand how hard it is to find affordable care while working multiple jobs. She’s not talking about this issue from a briefing book, and she’s not checking the polls to shape her policy — this is her life.
As governor, Fran will make universal childcare a top priority because she knows what it’s like to choose between work and caring for your kids.
Spread the word
Share this page with other parents in your community. The more people who speak up, the harder it is for politicians to ignore us.
Share:
Need help now?
While we fight for universal child care, here are resources that might help your family:
Head Start / Early Head Start
Free early childhood education for qualifying families.
Find a program: eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/center-locator
4-Year-Old Kindergarten (4K)
Free public pre-K available in most Wisconsin school districts.
Contact your local school district for enrollment info.
Child Care Resources & Referral
Help finding licensed child care in your area.
Join team Hong
Get email updates from Fran and the campaign team.
By submitting this form, you consent to receive donation asks, voter contact, and informational emails from Francesca Hong. Email frequency varies. You may unsubscribe at any time by clicking the unsubscribe link in any email. Privacy Policy & Terms.