2025 Wisconsin Act 15

5. “School-age program leader” means a person who plans, implements, and supervises the daily activities for a designated group of school-age children, communicates with families, works with the community, and coordinates staff in a school-age program at a child care center licensed under this section.

(b) Requirements for assistant child care teachers. A child care center licensed under this section may hire an individual to be an assistant child care teacher if the individual meets all of the following requirements:

1. The individual is at least 16 years old.

2. The individual has satisfactorily completed at least one of the following within 6 months after assuming the position:

a. Two credits in early childhood education or its equivalent.

b. One non-credit, department-approved course in early childhood education.

c. An assistant child care teacher training program approved by the department of public instruction.

(c) Sole supervision by assistant child care teachers. An assistant child care teacher who has completed the training required under par. (b) 2. and is at least 18 years old may provide sole supervision to a group of children in the following instances and for the following amounts of time:

1. In a full-day center, if there is a child care teacher on the premises, for opening and closing hours, not to exceed the first 2 hours and the last 2 hours of center operation, and during the center’s designated naptime, not to exceed 2 hours.

2. In a school-age program, if there is a school-age program leader or child care teacher on the premises, for no more than 45 minutes.

15,163 Section 163. 48.67 of the statutes is renumbered 48.67 (1m), and 48.67 (1m) (a) and (d) 1. (intro.), 2. and 3., as renumbered, are amended to read:

48.67 (1m) (a) That all child care center licensees, and all employees and volunteers of a child care center, who provide care and supervision for children under one year of age receive, before the date on which the license is issued or the employment or volunteer work commences, whichever is applicable, training in the most current medically accepted methods of preventing sudden infant death syndrome. The rules shall provide that any training in those methods that a licensee has obtained in connection with military service, as defined in s. 111.32 (12g), counts toward satisfying the training requirement under this subsection paragraph if the licensee demonstrates to the satisfaction of the department that the training obtained in that connection is substantially equivalent to the training required under this subsection paragraph.

(d) 1. (intro.) That all foster parents successfully complete training in the care and support needs of children who are placed in foster care that has been approved by the department. The training shall be completed on an ongoing basis, as determined by the department. The department shall promulgate rules prescribing the training that is required under this subsection paragraph and shall monitor compliance with this subsection paragraph according to those rules. The training shall include training in all of the following:

2. The training under par. (a) subd. 1. shall be available to a kinship care provider, as defined in s. 48.40 (1m), upon request of the kinship care provider.

3. For a foster parent receiving an initial license, the training under par. (a) subd. 1. shall be completed before the first child is placed with the foster parent.

15,164 Section 164. 48.67 (1b) of the statutes is created to read:

48.67 (1b) In this section, “provider” means an individual who provides care and supervision for children in a child care center licensed under s. 48.65 (1).

15,165 Section 165. 48.67 (2m) of the statutes is created to read:

48.67 (2m) (a) In the rules promulgated under sub. (1m), the department shall establish a category of child care centers licensed under s. 48.65 (1) that provide care and supervision for 4 to 12 children.

(b) The department shall regulate a child care center described in par. (a) in the same way that it regulates a child care center that is licensed to provide care and supervision for 4 to 8 children, including the maximum number of children per provider, except for all of the following:

1. The department shall prohibit a child care center described in par. (a) from authorizing more than 2 providers to provide care and supervision for children at one time.

2. The department may regulate a child care center described in par. (a) differently than a child care center that provides care and supervision for 4 to 8 children to the extent necessary to safely accommodate a larger group of children.

15,166 Section 166. 49.132 of the statutes is created to read:

49.132 Community-based option for elementary school readiness. (1) Definitions. In this section:

(a) “Child care provider” means a provider licensed under s. 48.65 or certified under s. 48.651.

(b) “Elementary school readiness program” means an instructional program that provides 4-year-old children with the social and cognitive skills to successfully transition to 5-year-old kindergarten in an elementary school setting.

(c) “School year” has the meaning given in s. 115.001 (13).

(2) Program. The department shall establish a community-based option for an elementary school readiness program under which a participating child care provider offers an elementary school readiness program to eligible children during the school year and receives funding from the department for each eligible child participating in the program.

(3) Eligibility. (a) Child care providers. A child care provider is eligible to participate in the program under this section if the child care provider satisfies all of the following:

1. Is in compliance with all legal, financial, and regulatory requirements imposed by law or by department rule.

2. Demonstrates to the department that it will annually provide at least 437 hours of direct child instruction in elementary school readiness to children participating in the program.

3. Demonstrates to the department that, for purposes of the program under this section, it uses a curriculum that meets the department of public instruction’s model early learning standards.

4. By no later than February 1 of the preceding school year, notifies the department of its intent to participate in the elementary school readiness program under this section according to application requirements established by the department.

5. Does not have a contract with a school district to provide a 4-year-old kindergarten for the school year in which the child care provider intends to participate in the program.

(b) Children. A child is eligible to participate in the program under this section if all of the following apply:

1. The child is 4 years old on or before September 1 in the school year that the child proposes to participate in the program.

2. The child’s parent or guardian submits an application to participate in the program under this section, on a form prepared by the department, to a participating child care provider.

3. A participating child care provider has accepted the child’s application to attend the elementary school readiness program offered by the child care provider under this section.

(4) Participating child care providers; annual notice. Annually, by February 15, the department shall post on its website a list of all child care providers that have submitted a notice of intent to participate in the program under this section in the following school year. The department shall include all of the following for each participating child care provider:

(a) The name of the child care provider.

(b) The address at which the program under this section will be provided.

(c) The name of and contact information for the provider or an employee of the provider who can answer questions about a child participating in the program under this section at the child care provider.

(d) The number of spaces available with the child care provider for children participating in the program under this section.

(5) Funding. (a) 1. Except as provided in subd. 2., from the appropriation under s. 20.437 (2) (cr), for each child participating in an elementary school readiness program offered by a child care provider under this section, the department shall pay to the child care provider participating in the program under this section 0.6 times the sum of the revenue ceiling, as defined in s. 121.905 (1), for the current school year and the per pupil amount under s. 115.437 (2) (a) for the current school year.

2. If the appropriation under s. 20.437 (2) (cr) is insufficient to pay the full amount of costs under subd. 1., the department shall prorate payments among the participating child care providers under this section.

(b) The department shall pay 25 percent of the total amount under par. (a) in September, 25 percent in November, 25 percent in February, and 25 percent in May. Each installment may consist of a single check for all children participating in the elementary school readiness program offered by the child care provider.

(c) A child care provider may use payments received under this subsection to cover any costs associated with providing the program under this section. If a child is participating in the program under this section, the child care provider may charge additional amounts to provide care and supervision for that child outside of the elementary school readiness program hours.

(6) Teacher qualifications. A teacher who teaches in an elementary school readiness program offered by a child care provider under this section shall have an associate degree or bachelor’s degree.

15,167 Section 167. 49.1335 of the statutes is created to read:

49.1335 Child care access program. (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.

15,167m Section 167m. 49.1335 of the statutes, as created by 2025 Wisconsin Act .... (this act), is repealed.

15,168 Section 168. 49.155 (6g) (b) 5. of the statutes is created to read:

49.155 (6g) (b) 5. Any hours during which the child participates in an elementary school readiness program under s. 49.132.

15,168m Section 168m. 49.175 (1) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

49.175 (1) Allocation of funds. (intro.) Except as provided in sub. (2), within the limits of the appropriations under s. 20.437 (2) (a), (cm), (dz), (k), (kx), (L), (mc), (md), (me), (mh), and (s) and (3) (kp), the department shall allocate the following amounts for the following purposes:

15,169 Section 169. 49.175 (1) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

49.175 (1) (a) Wisconsin Works benefits. For Wisconsin Works benefits, $37,000,000 in fiscal year 2021-22 and $34,000,000 in fiscal year 2022-23. In fiscal year 2023-24, for such benefits, $28,000,000. In fiscal year 2024-25, for such benefits, $29,000,000. In fiscal year 2025-26, for such benefits, $26,806,500. In fiscal year 2026-27, for such benefits, $26,987,700.

Section 170. 49.175 (1) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

49.175 (1) (c) Case management incentive payments. For supplement payments to individuals under s. 49.255, $2,700,000 in each fiscal year, $1,000,000.

15,171 Section 171. 49.175 (1) (fa) of the statutes is repealed.

15,172 Section 172. 49.175 (1) (g) of the statutes is amended to read:

49.175 (1) (g) State administration of public assistance programs and overpayment collections. For state administration of public assistance programs and the collection of public assistance overpayments, $17,231,100 in fiscal year 2021-22 and $17,482,300 in fiscal year 2022-23. In fiscal year 2023-24, for such purposes, $19,015,300. In fiscal year 2024-25, for such purposes, $19,424,300. In fiscal year 2025-26, for such purposes, $20,314,000. In fiscal year 2026-27, for such purposes, $20,539,800.

15,173 Section 173. 49.175 (1) (i) of the statutes is amended to read:

49.175 (1) (i) Emergency assistance. For emergency assistance under s. 49.138 and for transfer to the department of administration for low-income energy or weatherization assistance programs, $6,000,000 in each fiscal year, $10,414,400.

15,174 Section 174. 49.175 (1) (Lm) of the statutes is amended to read:

49.175 (1) (Lm) Jobs for America’s Graduates. For grants to the Jobs for America’s Graduates-Wisconsin to fund programs that improve social, academic, and employment skills of youth who are eligible to receive temporary assistance for needy families under 42 USC 601 et seq., in each fiscal year 2024-25, $1,000,000. In fiscal year 2025-26, for such grants, $2,000,000. In fiscal year 2026-27, for such grants, $1,000,000.

15,175 Section 175. 49.175 (1) (Lp) of the statutes is repealed.

15,176 Section 176. 49.175 (1) (p) of the statutes is amended to read:

49.175 (1) (p) Direct child care services. For direct child care services under s. 49.155 or 49.257, $376,700,400 in fiscal year 2021-22 and $383,900,400 in fiscal year 2022-23. In fiscal year 2023-24, for such direct child care services, $368,834,800. In fiscal year 2024-25, for such direct child care services, $428,779,700. In fiscal year 2025-26, for such direct child care services, 509,026,700. In fiscal year 2026-27, for such direct child care services, 526,026,700.

15,177 Section 177. 49.175 (1) (q) of the statutes is amended to read:

49.175 (1) (q) Child care state administration and licensing activities. For state administration of child care programs under s. 49.155 and for child care licensing activities, $42,117,800 in fiscal year 2021-22 and $41,803,100 in fiscal year 2022-23. In fiscal year 2023-24, for such programs and activities, $45,796,000. In fiscal year 2024-25, for such programs and activities, $45,570,300. In fiscal year 2025-26, for such programs and activities, $51,064,000. In fiscal year 2026-27, for such programs and activities, $48,734,700.

15,178 Section 178. 49.175 (1) (qm) of the statutes is amended to read:

49.175 (1) (qm) Quality care for quality kids. For the child care quality improvement activities specified in ss. 49.155 (1g) and 49.257, $16,683,700 in fiscal year 2022-23. In fiscal year 2023-24, for such activities, $28,518,700. In fiscal year 2024-25, for such activities, $46,018,700. In fiscal year 2025-26, for such activities, $47,018,700. In fiscal year 2026-27, for such activities, $46,018,700.

15,179 Section 179. 49.175 (1) (s) of the statutes is amended to read:

49.175 (1) (s) Kinship care and long-term kinship care assistance. For kinship care and long-term kinship care payments under s. 48.57 (3m) (am) and (3n) (am), for assessments to determine eligibility for those payments, and for agreements under s. 48.57 (3t) with the governing bodies of Indian tribes for the administration of the kinship care and long-term kinship care programs within the boundaries of the reservations of those tribes, $28,727,100 in fiscal year 2021-22 and $31,441,800 in fiscal year 2022-23. In fiscal year 2023-24, for such payments, $31,719,200. In fiscal year 2024-25, for such payments, $35,661,000. In fiscal year 2025-26, for such payments, $39,223,800. In fiscal year 2026-27, for such payments, $40,075,700.

15,180 Section 180. 49.175 (1) (z) of the statutes is amended to read:

49.175 (1) (z) Grants to the Boys and Girls Clubs of America. For grants to the Wisconsin Chapter of the Boys and Girls Clubs of America to fund programs that improve social, academic, and employment skills of youth who are eligible to receive temporary assistance for needy families under 42 USC 601 et seq., focusing on study habits, intensive tutoring in math and English, and exposure to career options and role models, $2,807,000 in each fiscal year 2024-25. In fiscal year 2025-26, for such grants, $7,807,000. In fiscal year 2026-27, for such grants, $3,307,000. Grants provided under this paragraph may not be used by the grant recipient to replace funding for programs that are being funded, when the grant proceeds are received, with moneys other than those from the appropriations specified in sub. (1) (intro.). The total amount of the grants includes funds for the BE GREAT: Graduate program in the amount of matching funds that the program provides, up to $1,532,000 in each fiscal year, to be used only for activities for which federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families block grant moneys may be used.

15,181 Section 181. 49.175 (1) (zh) of the statutes is amended to read:

49.175 (1) (zh) Earned income tax credit supplement. For the transfer of moneys from the appropriation account under s. 20.437 (2) (md) to the appropriation account under s. 20.835 (2) (kf) for the earned income tax credit, $63,600,000 in fiscal year 2021-22 and $66,600,000 in fiscal year 2022-23. In fiscal year 2023-24, for such purposes, $61,725,000. In fiscal year 2024-25, for such purposes, $65,002,000. In fiscal year 2025-26, for such purposes, $63,300,000. In fiscal year 2026-27, for such purposes, $61,800,000.