Candy Hall and Jason Schulist were guests on Outside the Box with Ben Cominos.
Listen to the interview (starting around 40:50) here.
- The Fox Valley Data Exchange organizes data around seven Vital Conditions, with lifelong learning highlighted this month, starting with kindergarten readiness and early childhood education access.
- Only about one in three preschoolers attend K3/K4 programs, down post‑pandemic due to high costs, long waitlists (e.g., 1,200+ kids in Outagamie County, 18‑24 months in rural Calumet), workforce shortages, and lack of wraparound childcare.
- Childcare wages have risen to $13‑15/hour but remain below living wages ($28+/hour for families), offering few benefits, leading to high turnover as workers move to schools, Head Start, or other fields.
- 3K/4K programs with integrated full‑day childcare are oversubscribed, while those without are underused, reflecting working parents’ needs for transportation and extended hours.
- State efforts are steps forward but insufficient; kindergarten readiness starts at birth (trust, regulation), and better support is needed for children, families, workforce, and economic growth.
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