For years, I have heard the same criticism repeated in Madison: Republicans have not addressed child care, Democrats have a corner on the market for solutions, and the only serious answer is simply to spend more money. I disagree on all three counts.
Wisconsin families need affordable, accessible child care and strong early learning opportunities. As the author of the 4K school choice program that was included in our last state budget, I am proud that we advanced a package of reforms that does more than write checks. It expands options, removes barriers, rewards participation, and helps create the capacity our state desperately needs.
More money alone is not a strategy
Democrats often frame the debate as a choice between spending more or doing nothing. That is a false choice. Wisconsin families have lived through years of expensive government programs that did not reliably produce better outcomes. In education, we learned that funding matters, but structure, accountability, workforce capacity, and parental choice matter too. Child care is no different.
That is why our approach does not simply increase reimbursement rates. It also expands provider supply, reduces unnecessary bottlenecks, creates new licensing pathways, supports workforce development, and gives parents more options for 4K readiness programs. The goal is to make care more available, more sustainable, and more responsive to families.
Obstacles to meaningful childcare reform
One of the biggest obstacles in Wisconsin has not been a lack of ideas or a lack of investment, it has been the tendency of some Democrats to treat child care as a political talking point. For years, Republicans have brought forward proposals aimed at expanding provider capacity, increasing workforce participation, reducing regulatory barriers, and creating more choices for parents.
Pointing fingers may generate headlines, but it does not create a single new child care slot. Families and providers need solutions, not partisan messaging. The reality is that Wisconsin’s child care challenges are complex and require a comprehensive approach that addresses workforce shortages, provider sustainability, affordability, and accessibility. Simply demanding larger government expenditures without addressing the underlying structural issues will not produce lasting results.
Why the 4K choice program matters
The 4K program I authored recognizes a reality many parents already know: child care providers are often doing far more than babysitting. Many are delivering structured early learning experiences that prepare children for elementary school. Yet public funding has historically favored traditional school settings while overlooking providers that families already trust.
Our $65 million 4K choice program begins to correct that imbalance. If a licensed provider offers an elementary-readiness program for four-year-olds, that provider should have a path to participate. Parents should not be forced into a one-size-fits-all model. Public policy should support school readiness wherever it is delivered effectively. Establishing a 437-hour instructional requirement ensures accountability for taxpayers and families.
Addressing the workforce challenge
One of the biggest constraints in child care is not demand; it is labor supply. Providers across Wisconsin tell us they cannot find enough qualified workers, and some have waiting lists despite strong demand.
Our reforms tackle that problem from several angles:
- Higher Wisconsin Shares reimbursement rates improve financial viability.
- New-provider coaching and licensing assistance help entrepreneurs enter the market.
- Modified provider-to-child ratios to target flexibility while compensating participating providers for taking on additional capacity.
- Allowing trained 16- and 17-year-olds to serve as assistant care teachers builds an entry pathway into the profession.
- The large-family child care license category gives experienced home-based providers room to grow.
These are workforce reforms, not just budget lines.
A conservative approach: families first
Conservatives should not cede the child care debate. We can champion strong families without embracing unlimited government expansion. A family-focused conservative agenda asks practical questions: Are parents getting real choices? Are providers able to open and grow? Are regulations aligned with safety and common sense? Are taxpayer dollars tied to participation and standards? Are we strengthening the workforce that keeps our economy moving?
This package moves Wisconsin in that direction. It recognizes that child care is both a family issue and a workforce issue. When parents cannot find care, they struggle to stay in the labor force. When providers cannot hire staff, capacity disappears. When public policy ignores private and community-based providers, families lose options.
Solutions, Not Slogans
None of this happened because of one legislator. I want to thank my colleagues in the Republican caucus who worked tirelessly on behalf of Wisconsin children and families. Many members spent months listening to providers, parents, employers, and local communities, then negotiated reforms that could actually be implemented.
I am particularly grateful for the willingness of colleagues to think beyond talking points and focus on practical solutions that increase access, support providers, and preserve parental choice.
We still have work to do. I look forward to continuing this work so that families can find care, providers can expand capacity, and employers can hire the workers they need. A stronger child care sector is not a partisan trophy; it is a foundation for a stronger Wisconsin economy.
If we truly want to help working families, we must move beyond the politics of blame. Sustainable progress will come from collaboration, innovation, and a willingness to evaluate ideas based on their effectiveness rather than their partisan origin. Wisconsin families deserve action, not political theater. Republicans have addressed child care. We did it with targeted investments, supply-side reforms, workforce development, parental choice, and accountability. That is not a slogan. It is a governing agenda.
Rep. Joy Goeben (R-Hobart) represents the 5th Assembly District in Northeast Wisconsin. She serves on various legislative committees including the Assembly Committees on Education, Children and Families, and Jobs and Economy. She also owned and operated her own in home child care business prior to her time in the Legislature.
