Child care costs as much as college. Here is what you need to know about fixes.

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You might have heard that child care costs as much as college.
Parents face big bills, long wait lists and a shortage of quality providers. At the same time, many child care providers say without assistance, they will be forced to close their doors. One of the biggest hurdles is finding qualified workers in an industry with low wages.
For a first-hand perspective, the Ideas Lab's Kristin Brey talked with four early childhood education ambassadors from Milwaukee Succeeds, an organization connected with the Greater Milwaukee Foundation that focuses on early childhood education and high school success.
The interviews (available in the video play list above and links below) include conversations with:
Jackie Burrell, a former child care provider, educator and parent. She also serves on the Board of Commissioners for Housing Authority of the City of Milwaukee; is the Westlawn Resident Council President; and is Foster Care to Adopt lead. See her interview.
LaDonna Foster, a former child care educator and parent. She is also the lead coordinator and board member at Westlawn Resident Council. See her interview.
Taffie Foster-Toney, lead case manager for Wisconsin Community Service and Driver's License Recovery and Employability program. See her interview.
Vanessa Giraldez, current early childhood education parent and lead service navigator at the National Alliance on Mental Illness and program coordinator for the Lighthouse Project. See her interview.
The future of proposed funding to support Wisconsin's struggling child care industry is in doubt after state budget negotiations between Gov. Tony Evers and legislative leaders collapsed June 4.
Evers, a Democrat, proposed spending $480 million on Child Care Counts, a program that directs federal pandemic relief funding to child care providers across Wisconsin. Providers use the money to increase staff wages, to offset the cost of physical operating expenses like rent and utilities, to increase the quality of their programming and to prevent large tuition hikes.
With the pandemic funding expected to run out this summer, Evers is asking for $480 million over the next two years to continue the program.
It's unclear how much, if any, Republicans, who control the legislature, will support in their budget bill. The state's new two-year budget begins July 1. If the governor and legislature don't agree on a budget, spending will continue at current levels.
How does Wisconsin compare to other states in responding to child care struggles? Here are solutions from two states highlighted by Milwaukee Succeeds:
New Mexico: Voters passed a constitutional amendment dedicating 1.25% of state land trust revenue to early childhood education. In addition, the state now offers child care assistance to families earning up to 400% of the federal poverty level and has waived all family copayments. New Mexico is leading on both sustainable funding and affordability, ensuring families don't face out-of-reach child care costs while creating long-term stability for providers.
Vermont: Lawmakers passed legislation that funds scholarships and loan repayment for early childhood education workers, expands family subsidies, upgrades the IT system, and sets equity-driven goals: no family should pay more than 10% of income, and providers should be fairly paid. Vermont is treating child care as public infrastructure, investing in both access and workforce quality while building a system that can meet long-term needs.
The Wisconsin Policy Forum's recent budget brief for Wisconsin includes a table outlining policy options from other states.
Jim Fitzhenry is the Ideas Lab Editor/Director of Community Engagement for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Reach him at [e-mail] or 920-993-7154. Kristin Brey is the "My Take" columnist for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: WI lawmakers must be part of solution for child care woes | Opinion