Definitions for Web Mapping Project

Term

Definition

Regulated Family Programs

Regulated family child care programs (operating in a provider’s home) are licensed by the Department of Health and Family Services (DHFS), Bureau of Regulation and Licensing (BRL) or certified through counties and tribes. Last updated May, 2006.

Licensed Group Programs

Facilities providing care to 9 or more children must be licensed by Department of Health and Family Services (DHFS), Bureau of Regulation and Licensing (BRL) under Wisconsin Administrative Code HFS 46. Last updated May, 2006.

Licensed Exempt Programs in Public Schools(4-K, Head Start)

4K schools are public schools that offer free, 4-year-old kindergarten to all children.  Head Start is a federal program for preschool children from low-income families.  There are 54 Head Start agencies in Wisconsin, each of which offers early care and education at multiple locations referred to as “centers.”  Head Start centers operated by a school district are exempt from licensing; Head Start centers that are licensed by BRL are listed under licensed group programs. Last updated January, 2006.

Licensed Family

Facilities providing care for 4 to 8 children operating in a provider’s home must be licensed by BRL under Wisconsin Administrative Code HFS 45.  Note because dually regulated are also licensed, highlighting licensed family also highlights dually regulated programs. Last updated May, 2006.

Certified Family

Counties and tribes certify providers who receive public funding and are exempt from licensing.  Most counties certify providers, whether or not public funding is involved.  Certified family providers may serve no more than 3 unrelated children (0-6 years) at any one time.   Note because dually regulated are also certified, highlighting certified family also highlights dually regulated programs. Last updated May, 2006.

Dually Regulated

Programs that are both licensed and certified are to be considered dually regulated. Last updated May, 2006.

Accredited

Multiple institutions offer accredited status to programs that exceed regulatory requirements for the quality of care for the children served.  Accreditation from the following national institutions are included on the map: National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), National AfterSchool Association (NAA).  Local institutions include City of Madison. Last updated May, 2006.

4K Community Approach

4K community approach districts work in collaboration with a local child care and/or Head Start center(s) to offer free, public 4K programs to 4-year-old children in their district.  Schools working in collaboration are highlighted when this option is chosen.

Head Start

There are 54 Head Start agencies in Wisconsin, each of which offers early care and education at multiple locations referred to as “centers.”  Head Start programs operated by a school district are exempt from licensing; Head Start centers that are licensed by BRL are listed under licensed group programs. Last updated June, 2005.

Term

Definition

Regulated Child Care Report

Census Data:

Population by age group.

Child Care Data:

Number of programs, child care capacity, and number of children with subsidy for regulated care: licensed group, licensed family and certified family.  These data are summarized by type of care.

Early Care and Education Program Overview Report

Census Data:

None.

Early Care and Education Data:

Number of programs in different types of early care and education: licensed group, 4K schools, certified school age, licensed family, certified family.  These data also show the number of accredited programs and part-time and full time programs.

Children from Low-Income Families Report

Census Data:

Child poverty rate, percent of families headed by single mother, percent of children approved for free or reduced school lunch.

Child Care Data:

Regulated care (licensed group, licensed family, certified family) data on number of programs, number of programs participating in the food program, child care capacity and number of children with subsidy.  These data are summarized by type of care and by portion of the children with subsidy they serve.

Term

Definition

Regulated care (programs):

Regulated child care programs are licensed by the Department of Health and Family Services (DHFS), Bureau of Regulation and Licensing (BRL) or certified through counties and tribes. Last updated May, 2006.

Child capacity:

Both licensing and certification rules set a maximum number of children for whom a program can care at any one time.  The actual number of enrolled children may legally be above the capacity figure (if, for example some children attend in the morning and others in the afternoon). Last updated May, 2006.

Children with subsidy:

Wisconsin Shares, the child care subsidy program administered by DWD) assists low-income families pay for child care.  The number of children with subsidy represents the number of subsidized children within the month of November 2005. Last updated May, 2006.

Licensed group care:

Facilities providing care to 9 or more children must be licensed by Department of Health and Family Services (DHFS), Bureau of Regulation and Licensing (BRL) under Wisconsin Administrative Code HFS 46. Last updated May, 2006.

Licensed family child care:

Facilities providing care for 4 to 8 children operating in a provider’s home must be licensed by BRL under Wisconsin Administrative Code HFS 45.  Note because dually regulated are also licensed, the total licensed family is licensed + dually regulated. Last updated May, 2006.

Certified family child care:

Counties and tribes certify providers who receive public funding and are exempt from licensing.  Most counties certify providers, whether or not public funding is involved.  Certified family providers may serve no more than 3 unrelated children (0-6 years) at any one time.  Note because dually regulated are also certified, the total certified family is certified + dually regulated. Last updated May, 2006.

Dually regulated:

Programs that are both licensed and certified are to be considered dually regulated. Last updated May, 2006.

Head Start centers:

Head Start is a federal program for preschool children from low-income families.  There are 54 Head Start agencies in Wisconsin, each of which offers early care and education at multiple locations referred to as “centers.”  Head Start centers operated by a school district are exempt from licensing; Head Start centers that are licensed by BRL are listed under licensed care. Last updated January, 2006.

4K Community Approach:

4K community approach districts work in collaboration with a local child care and/or Head Start center(s) to offer free, public 4K programs to 4-year-old children in their district.  The schools and the centers with whom they work account for the 4K community approach programs in public schools and licensed care, respectively. Last updated March, 2005.

4K schools:

4K schools are public schools that offer free, 4-year-old kindergarten to all children. Last updated 2005-2006 school year

Certified school age:

School age programs serving children that are 7 years or older, may become school-age certified by their county. Last updated May, 2006.

Regularly certified:

Providers who care for 1-3 unrelated children under the age 7, meet all certification standards, and have completed basic certification training are regularly certified. Last updated May, 2006.

Provisionally certified:

Providers who care for 1-3 unrelated children under the age 7 and meet all certification standards but have not completed basic certification training are provisionally certified. Last updated May, 2006.

Certified other:

Special circumstances warrant other types of certification (e.g. in a child’s home). Last updated May, 2006.

Accredited programs:

Multiple institutions offer accredited status to programs that exceed regulatory requirements for the quality of care for the children served.  Accreditation from the following national institutions are included with this site: National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), National AfterSchool Association (NAA), and the National Association for Family Child Care (NAFCC).  Local institutions include City of Madison and its associate, Satellite Family Child Care.  Counts of programs are summarized by type of care and by type of accrediting institution. Last updated January, 2006.

Availability:

Programs that offer care at least 6 hours a day, five days a week, and 11 months a year are defined as full day/full year programs.  All others are defined part day/part year programs. Last updated January, 2006.

Food Program:

The Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) is a federal program that promotes healthy and nutritious meals for children and adults in day care by reimbursing participating day care operators for their approved meal costs. Last updated January, 2006.

Percent children with subsidy:

To calculate what portion of a programs’ children are subsidized, the number of children in Wisconsin SHARES is divided by the capacity of a program.  The programs are then grouped into three categories: mostly children from low-income families (50% or higher), some children from low-income families (10-49%), and few children from low-income families (under 10%).  Head Start centers, though not always serving children subsidized by Wisconsin SHARES are considered part of the mostly low-income families category. Last updated May, 2006.