WCCRP Project Co-directors Diane Adams, Mary Roach, and Dave Riley, and Dave Edie work in partnership with the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development Child Care Section, and the Wisconsin Child Care Resource & Referral (CCR&R) Network.

The Wisconsin Child Care Research Partnership conducts ongoing research that helps answer the question: What is the quality of child care in Wisconsin?

Several studies have been conducted that help answer that question:

1. administrative data review (ongoing) of CCR&R data on child care programs and providers statewide. These data offer an in-depth look at the number of new licensed centers and family child care homes, by county, and the number of programs that have closed or are inactive, by county. Of particular interest are the standardized descriptors of types of facilities, and reasons for closure, if applicable. Early care and education programs primarily operate with parent fees. CCR&Rs document in their consultations and referrals with parents the income levels of families, so we can estimate the number of families who may be able to afford child care or the number who may be eligible for child care subsidies.
2. administrative data review (ongoing) of information housed in the Data Warehouse at DWD. Low-income families with subsidies are selecting from among 80% of the state's regulated facilities, making Wisconsin's subsidy program one of the most comprehensive in the nation. The administrative data review performed by WCCRP helps focus on shifts in types of care selected, use of tiered reimbursements for higher quality, and ages of low-income children in care.
3. a statewide survey in 2000 of child care programs and providers that participate in the state subsidy program. Data from 452 family child care providers, 324 child care centers, 256 directors of centers, and 817 child care teachers are analyzed (ongoing).
4. direct observations in 341 child care classrooms in randomly-selected programs in 2001 and 70 family child care homes using nationally-recognized instruments provide data for measuring quality of environments for young children.
5. a survey of nationally-accredited child care programs was conducted in 2002 (with 82% rate of return for centers and a 100% rate of return for family child care) provide data on the process and results of accreditation.

Data from these studies provide baseline information for our reports (see publications).

In addition, the Research Partnership has conducted several evaluation studies, not funded by the Child Care Bureau. Among them:

1. Losing Ground or Keeping Up? A study of the child care workforce in 2000 (for the Wisconsin Early Childhood Association). This study enabled WECA to help plan for expansion of the T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood ® WISCONSIN program by knowing regions of the state where potential scholarship recipients are concentrated. (2000)
2. An Evaluation of Quality Initiatives. A lengthy analysis of both administrative data and reports by technical assistance groups for the Department of Workforce Development, documenting the efforts and financial resources Wisconsin has invested in improving quality over a 10-year period. (2001)
3. T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood ® WISCONSIN: Evaluation Report. This study, funded by Wisconsin Early Childhood Association, is one of the few studies of T.E.A.C.H., a North Carolina licensed program found in 21 states. Completed in September, 2003, this evaluation shows the impact of the scholarship and bonus program on over 1600 recipients' wages, credit hours, and turnover. (2003)
4. Trends Over Time. This report is unique because it examines similar data from four statewide child care workforce studies in Wisconsin - in 1980, 1988, 1994, and 2000. The report also contains comments from long-time leaders in the field of early child care and education in Wisconsin, and sets the stage for ongoing understanding of this critical workforce. (2003)