Great Start

Early Learning Coalition Leadership Council: Celebrate Children Foundation Disability Rights Wisconsin Madison Area Accredited Early Childhood Association Milwaukee Child Care Alliance Parents Plus School Administrators Alliance Supporting Families Together Wisconsin Association of School Boards Wisconsin Child Care Administrators Association Wisconsin Council on Children and Families Wisconsin Council for Exceptional Children, Division of Early Childhood Wisconsin Early Childhood Association Wisconsin Family Child Care Association Wisconsin Head Start Association Wisconsin Infant & Early Childhood Mental Health Association	Great Start: Early Learning Matters (ELC) is a statewide campaign of the Wisconsin Early Learning Coalition. Its purpose is to promote public policies and public investments that make high quality early care and education a top priority in Wisconsin. Early learning does indeed matter. When young children are in early care and education, we want it to be the best. Educated teachers, small classes, and parent involvement all help lay the foundation of social skills, knowledge, and self-confidence that paves the way for success in school and life.We invite your engagement in this campaign. Through grassroots advocacy, we can ensure that every Wisconsin child is ready to grow, ready to learn and ready to succeed. This website is designed to help.
	Early Learning Coalition News Federal Investments in Early Care and Education (October 2011) ELC's Statement Regarding Attendance Based Child Care Payment Policy (August 24,2011) ELC's Statement Regarding 2011-13 State Budget (June 2011) Early Care and Education Scorecard: 2011-13 Wisconsin Budget (June 2011) ELC's Public Policy Agenda for 2011-12 Wisconsin Early Learning Coalition position on Child Care Subsidies and Child Care Quality Rating and Information System. View ELC position paper. Wisconsin Early Learning Coalition position and alternative on YoungStar Tiered Reimbursement. View ELC position paper. Wisconsin Early Learning Coalition position on Governor's Budget proposals 2011-2013. View ELC position paper. Joint Committee on Finance Approves Funding to Launch the YoungStar Child Care Quality Rating and Improvement System!16-0 vote represents a big victory for Wisconsin’s children. See the blog post. YoungStar is the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families' proposed new five-star quality rating and improvement system for child care in Wisconsin. Visit DCF's YoungStar Proposal information site for the fact
	Join the Early Learning Coalition campaign! Click on Become a Member to join us and get newsletters, updates and action alerts. Visit Get Involved where you find out ways you can make a difference. Keep up-to-date with the research on Why Early Learning Matters. Read our current legislative agenda proposal for the 2009-11 state budget in Legislative Agenda. Get involved through your membership in one of the fifteen core Coalition member organizations; click on any organization on the left to go directly to a website.