Building a Statewide Policy Agenda for Wisconsin’s Kids

‍For two days in Milwaukee, the Wisconsin Partnership came together with one shared purpose: creating a stronger future for kids across the state. (In addition to Milwaukee Succeeds, the Wisconsin Partnership includes Achieve Brown County, Higher Expectations for Racine County and Building Our Future Kenosha.) Together, we’re working to improve education and bolster the success of our students – from cradle to career.

This convening – facilitated by our national network partner StriveTogeether – was dedicated to building a shared policy agenda for the 2027-2029 state budget that reflects the needs, experiences and hopes of our communities. What emerged was not just a policy discussion. It was alignment, shared purpose and a reminder that when we come together, we can spark meaningful change.

What Matters Most in our Communities

While every organization is committed to the same goal, each goes about it in their own unique way. The retreat began with each group sharing the priorities and strategies currently shaping their work.

Achieve Brown County shared its focus on early literacy and early childhood systems, including how communities can intentionally support children long before they enter a classroom. Higher Expectations, meanwhile, shared their focus on educational advocacy and postsecondary access. Building Our Future touched on their work in the postsecondary success and early intervention areas, emphasizing how early support can shape confidence, opportunity and long-term outcomes.

Finally, Milwaukee Succeeds shared our focus on strengthening the early childhood education (ECE) sector through policy and systems work, including implementing the Get Kids Ready program. Our work showcases the importance of sustainable child care and ECE systems – not just to families, but to workforce participation and long-term success, as well.

Finding Alignment Across Wisconsin

Although each community faces unique challenges, we’re strongly aligned around several key issues, particularly ECE, kindergarten readiness, and building sustainable support systems for families and educators.

By the end of the first day, the Wisconsin Partnership identified three major policy focus areas moving forward: stabilizing Wisconsin’s child care sector, ensuring Wisconsin Shares reimbursement rates reflect the true cost of care, and defining and measuring kindergarten readiness.\

Turning Vision into Strategy

With our goals clearly defined, our attention turned to logistics. Teams evaluated each proposed policy priority by identifying the current conditions and realities, opportunities for momentum and partnership, the risks and barriers, and finally the desired long-term outcomes.

This process helped us better understand where Wisconsin currently stands and what steps are needed to move our priorities forward. Next, we identified which partners and sectors could stand alongside us and whose voices need to be added, as well as the obstacles we may face along the way.

Our deep connection to the community was highlighted as a powerful asset, one which will help us call for change with a unified voice. With our combined power, we can drive meaningful policy change for Wisconsin’s children and families.

What Comes Next

As a partnership, we’re now preparing a plan to move these priorities from conversation into action. We are excited. We are eager. We are ready for the work. We are driven by a shared desire to ensure that every child, regardless of zip code, race, income, circumstance, religion or background, has the opportunity to learn, grow and achieve their dreams.

These two days were filled with thoughtful conversations, hard questions, strategic thinking and passionate people who deeply care about creating a better future for kids. And this is only the beginning.