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State—s Get Kids Ready program forces 4K partners to choose; district weighs contract offers

Waunakee Community School District · November 20, 2025
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Summary

District staff said the state—s new Get Kids Ready program prohibits 4K community partners from participating with both the state program and the local district, and partners must decide by Feb. 1 whether to join; the board is evaluating financial scenarios and plans to offer partners a 26-27 contract.

District administrators told attendees the state—s new Get Kids Ready program requires 4-year-old kindergarten community partners to choose whether to participate in the state program or continue partnering with the local school district. Steve Summers said the program "prohibits a 4 k community partner from partnering with both the state of Wisconsin and their local school district."

Summers said the board has been reviewing multiple financial scenarios and that keeping the ability to count 4K students for state-equalization aid is "essential" for the district—s funding trajectory. He said the board hopes to make a contract offer to 4K partners for the 2026-27 school year in December and that partners must notify whether they will participate in the state program by Feb. 1.

District staff said administration has been meeting with 4K partners and encouraged community members to follow the process and provide feedback. The district will include 4K and high-school planning in a community-wide feedback opportunity scheduled for 2026, per the presentation.