MADISON, WI – One City Schools announced today that it has received a $50,000 grant from the Madison Community Foundation (MCF) to support a comprehensive planning process for expanding its award-winning early childhood education model across the Greater Madison region. The initiative aims to address the critical shortage of high-quality, affordable childcare in Dane County, where approximately 6,000 children currently remain on waiting lists for regulated childcare services.
The grant will fund a feasibility study and strategic planning process led by EF International Advisors, focusing on identifying opportunities to replicate One City’s successful preschool model through partnerships with local employers and community organizations. The five-month planning process will begin in January 2025 and conclude in May 2025. It will involve a 15-person Design Team and engage a myriad of employers and community stakeholders.
“This grant represents a crucial step toward addressing the severe childcare crisis affecting families across our region,” said Kaleem Caire, Founder and CEO of One City Schools. “With over 500 children served since 2015 at our existing preschool, we’ve demonstrated that our model works. Now, we have the opportunity to thoughtfully plan how we can serve at least 1,000 more children in the next three to five years, ensuring more families have access to the high-quality early education their children need and deserve.”
“MCF is thrilled to support this innovative initiative that brings together the school, community members, and local businesses to explore opportunities for expanding access to early learning,” said Angela Davis, Director of Grantmaking at the Madison Community Foundation. “This collaborative, community-centered approach not only paves the way for potential partnerships that address critical early childhood education needs but also ensures the findings will benefit other providers across the community. It’s a model of how collective effort can create lasting impact for our youngest learners and their families.”
The planning process will be facilitated by EF International Advisors, a firm with extensive experience in education strategy and organizational scaling. “EF International Advisors is honored to collaborate with One City Schools as they expand their work in brain-based, play-integrated early childhood learning,” said E. Ted Fujimoto, Managing Director. “Their thoughtful approach, grounded in developmental research and a commitment to excellence, not only strengthens early learning but also brings educators, families, and the community together to ensure more children have access to quality early childhood education. We are inspired by their work and look forward to supporting their continued growth, creating lasting benefits for children and contributing to a vibrant Greater Madison region for generations to come.”
One City’s expansion planning comes at a critical time, as recent data shows that over 50% of Wisconsin qualifies as a “childcare desert,” with only one licensed childcare slot available for every three children under age five. The organization’s successful employer-sponsored childcare pilot program, launched in 2023, will serve as a model for potential expansion through workplace partnerships.
For more information about One City Schools and its preschool program, visit www.onecityschools.org/one-city-preschool. To learn more about the Madison Community Foundation, visit www.madisongives.org.
About One City Schools
Established in 2014, One City Schools is a nonprofit organization that operates high-quality preschools and tuition-free independent public charter schools in Madison, Wisconsin. Its mission is to seed a new model of public education that ensures children and teens are on track to succeed in a college or career preparatory program from birth through high school graduation.
