By Jillynn Niemeier

I am writing to express my deep concerns about the quality of child care and early education in our state. As a parent and licensed family child care provider, I believe that every child deserves access to high-quality care and education during their formative years. Unfortunately, recent action that took place in the assembly in regards to child care bills will do the opposite.

Representative Todd Novak has put in his E-updates, “Investing in quality education for our children is essential for their overall development and success. By prioritizing K-12 education, we ensure that students receive the necessary resources, tools, and opportunities to thrive academically, socially, and emotionally,” and “the assembly voted on numerous child care bills that would benefit parents and expand access to quality care.” 

Investing in quality education for our children is essential for their overall development and success. However on Thursday, September 14, he voted ‘yes’ on all the Republican bills for child care. This includes allowing 16-year-olds to be in charge of a classroom by themselves so long as “an adult is on premise.” Having a classroom full of toddlers by yourself at 16? And not having the support or maturity to be able to help children work through a hard moment, and also having another five playing in the room? Increasing ratios in group child care centers is going to bring down the quality of care, as each child is not going to get the time with the teacher they deserve during the most important development which they will go through in their life. 

Any child care program that chooses to “take advantage of this choice,” but is Accredited or, Youngstar rated (the states own quality rating system) will not be able to utilize either of these options as they will decrease quality, health, and safety. This isn’t an opinion — they will lose accreditation or be unable to achieve higher than a 3-star. Even a 3-star will be difficult to accomplish, since it will be almost impossible to meet the children’s needs appropriately with those ratios.

Representative Novak’s own words, “ensure that students receive the necessary resources, tools, and opportunities to thrive academically, socially, and emotionally,” acknowledge this is the time to build the foundation needed for children to enter the K-12 system and be successful. This is the time we should be investing in quality — not taking it away as 90% of brain development happens in the first five years. How do you justify these votes? This is not benefiting the parents and expanding the access to quality care. This is doing the complete opposite for quality.  

Rep. Novak has voted no multiple times to Child Care Counts amendments, including on Thursday. 

Child Care Counts increased quality and access. In Green County alone, more programs started accepting subsidy payments for low income children, and increased from 2- to 3- and 4-star ratings. There are more child care programs in the county than in 2019 — the first increase in decades. Tuition rates stabilized, but according to a recent survey (90% return rate) Green County rates will increase 26% from Jan. 2023 to Jan. 2024, making care more unaffordable. I have also reached out many times inviting Representative Novak to have a conversation with me at my center and also with other providers at a round-table without success. I welcome him to come work at my program when it fits in his schedule as I am open from Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., so we can have an honest conversation about what high quality, affordable, accessible child care means.

— Jillynn Niemeier is a child care provider in Green County. Child Care Matters is a series written by local child care providers.