Week of the Young Child: How ECE Powers Milwaukee’s Workforce
Early childhood education (ECE) is a powerful tool for families, allowing parents to work while setting their children up for success. But it's also a powerful driver for our economy and a cornerstone of a thriving community. This year during the Week of the Young Child (April 11-17), we’re shining a light on the important role ECE plays in building a brighter future for our city.
The data draws a clear connection. According to Samantha Reynoso, Milwaukee Succeeds’ research and evaluation manager, child care challenges cost Wisconsin’s economy an estimated $2.6 billion each year. And nationally, over 60% of working parents report being late or missing work because of child care disruptions.
“ECE isn't just about children's health and education outcomes,” she explains. “It's also a critical part of the infrastructure that keeps our workforce and economy functioning.”
A Necessity for Families
For parents like Briana Stanford, an ECE Ambassador, ECE is essential to balancing work and family life. “Dropping my children off in the morning and knowing they are cared for, safe, loved and learning allows me to be fully present at my job,” she says. “When that falls through, everything else starts to fall through.”
Fellow ECE Ambassador Vanessa Giraldez knows that all too well. “When my children were little, I had to reduce my hours to part time because the cost and availability of child care made it nearly impossible for my family.”
Vanessa isn’t alone. When child care breaks down – or is too costly to continue – many parents are forced to either cut their hours or leave the workforce entirely. This deals a massive financial blow to families who depend on that income, while hindering their future career development. It also passes that instability on to their employers.
ECE as Workforce Infrastructure
According to a ReadyNation national study, businesses lose $38 billion annually from reduced productivity, absences and workforce disruptions due to child care challenges. This amounts to almost $2,000 per working parent. It’s clear that ECE isn’t simply a family issue, but an economic one as well.
Vincent Lyles, executive director of Milwaukee Succeeds, sees child care as a critical piece of workforce infrastructure. “ECE allows parents to go to work, stay productive and advance in their careers – which benefits employers and our local economy. At the same time, high-quality early learning helps build foundational skills for our future workforce – skills they’ll need to communicate, to problem-solve, to be part of a team.”
Benjamin Porter, director of the Wisconsin Partnership, reinforces this point: “If we want a strong workforce and a strong economy here in Wisconsin, we’ve got to start early. The kids in today’s classrooms are going to shape what the state looks like in 10, 20 years – and they’re not being adequately supported.”
The effects of high-quality ECE ripple far beyond the classroom. Strong programs help parents remain active in the workforce today while preparing children to become the skilled workers and leaders our economy will depend on.
Setting Kids up for Success
An investment in ECE is an investment in our future. It’s also an investment in our kids.
Vanessa Giraldez, ECE Ambassador and mother of three, points out the importance of quality early learning: “90% of a child’s brain develops before the age of 5. ECE isn’t just child care – it’s the foundation for learning, growth and success later in life.”
Maria Hamidu, the Youth Forward MKE program manager, sees this every day. “In my work, I get to collaborate with incredible young people across Milwaukee who are full of creativity and potential. But that journey starts much earlier. ECE builds the foundation for success in schools, careers and life.”
Essentially, ECE teaches our children how to learn. It hones their curiosity and confidence. It unlocks their potential and readies them to be better students, better workers and better leaders.
Lenisa Lee, ECE Ambassador, sums it up: “Child care isn’t a luxury – it’s a necessity. It ensures families can work and children have a safe place to grow.”
Investing in Our Future
From parents to advocates to early educators, Milwaukee is sounding the call: We must invest in ECE to protect our families, sustain our businesses and build the workforce of tomorrow. As Holly Tassone, director of compliance at Notre Dame School of Milwaukee, says, “ECE truly helps our communities move forward. It is the foundation of everything that comes next in life. I'm proud to be part of the work that helps Milwaukee's future get its start.”
The Week of the Young Child is not just a celebration – it’s a reminder that our community’s future depends on the care and learning we provide today. It is critical that we continue to fund and nurture this essential work.
ECE Ambassador LaDonna Foster puts it plainly. “We have to make sure we continue to fight the good fight. We have to hold onto this hope that our children – no matter what color you are, whatever nationality you are – that all children get the love, get the care that they need to survive and grow.”
