| Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development News Release | |
|---|---|
| Thursday, October 14, 2004 Governor Jim Doyle Secretary Roberta Gassman |
News Media Contact Rose Lynch 608/266-6753 e-mail: news@dwd.state.wi.us fax: 608/266-1784 |
Milwaukee - Department of Workforce Development Secretary (DWD) Roberta Gassman today presented Milwaukee Public Schools a Community Child Care Initiatives Grant for $664,555 and said its success makes the case for Governor Jim Doyle’s KidsFirst Initiative.
In partnership with Milwaukee Area Technical College, the district works with community-based, early childhood programs to improve the quality, meet the needs of working parents and get young children ready for success when they enter school.
According to Ann Terrell, coordinator of Community & Child Care Partnerships for MPS, national accreditation has been achieved by more than half of the 50 community based programs served by the MPS initiative.
Terrell also is chair of Governor Doyle’s Quality Counts Task Force, which recently recommended a star system for rating the quality of child care and early education providers. The Governor proposed the rating system earlier this year as part of his KidsFirst Initiative to help guide working parents to quality child care, give providers an incentive to improve their service and help them reach the goal through scholarships and stipends for child care worker education.
Secretary Gassman awarded the grant at Grantosa Drive School, an MPS elementary school that has formed a partnership with Harmon Manor Child Development Center. Joined by Representative David Cullen, who represents the area in the state Assembly, Secretary Gassman cited the success of the MPS program.
“Your efforts and your accomplishments here demonstrate what we can achieve in other communities under a star rating system,” Secretary Gassman said. “MPS, MATC and the district’s local partners are working not just to close the achievement gap, but eliminate it. This is what Governor Doyle had in mind when he proposed his KidsFirst Initiative earlier this year.”
MPS provides before and after school child care programs for more than 5,000 children at 82 elementary schools throughout the school year. In addition to the state grant, the program receives funding from the Joyce Foundation and Milwaukee County.
Content Contact: Rose Lynch