KidsKare
KidsKare is a reduced rate back-up child care program for current UW-Madison parenting students, faculty and staff.
Hourly/back-up care is a good option for unexpected, short-term, or occasional child care needs. For example, when your child care provider is ill or unavailable, or if you need evening or weekend hours to meet the needs of work or family.
Services for this hourly/back-up care take place at Little Chicks Learning Academy, a state licensed and nationally accredited child care facility in the UW-Madison Child Care & Education System (CCES).
KidsKare serves children ages 6 weeks through 4 years-old (or through the summer before kindergarten).
Please note: you must apply and be approved for KidsKare before making a reservation for reduced-rate child care.
KidsKare Information
Fall KidsKare (Coverage Dates: September 1-December 31)
Application opens 1st Monday of August.
Spring KidsKare (Coverage Dates: January 1-May 31)
Application open 1st Monday of December.
Summer KidsKare (Coverage Dates: June 1-August 31)
Application opens 1st Monday of May.
Please note that there is a one-time registration fee of $25 due at drop-off at Little Chicks Learning Academy. Cash, cards, and checks are accepted.
* CCTAP is the UW-Madison Child Care Tuition Assistance Program for parenting students. KidsKare applicants are automatically approved for free hours if they apply for CCTAP and are found eligible for the current semester, or if they meet CCTAP income eligibility guidelines by showing proof of income to the Office of Child Care and Family Resources staff.
KidsKare services are held at Little Chicks Learning Academy, a state licensed and nationally accredited child care center located at 5003 University Avenue.
You must apply and be approved for KidsKare prior to making a reservation in order to receive reduced-rate care.
Reservations are made directly with Little Chicks Learning Academy and are not guaranteed due to high demand. Reservations may be made up to 2 weeks in advance. After your allocated KidsKare reduced rate hours are used, you may continue to use the hourly/back-up care service at the regular hourly cost ($12-14/hour).
First Time Users:
- Fill out Little Chicks Learning Academy enrollment forms. Service will not be provided without enrollment forms. If you don’t have access to a printer, please arrive 20 minutes earlier than your reservation to fill out forms at Little Chicks.
- Fill out the First Time Reservation Request form at least 24 hours in advance.
- Review the list of items to bring.
Returning Users
- Fill out the Returning User Reservation Request form at least 24 hours in advance.
- Review the list of items to bring.
- If it has been more than three months since your last reservation, you may need to update and re-submit enrollment forms.
Last Minute/Urgent Requests:
If your need for care is last-minute/urgent, please call Little Chicks Learning Academy at 608-233-1610 during business hours or text 608-719-4024 outside of business hours.
Regular Hours:
Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM-4:00 PM
Saturdays, 9:00 AM-4:00 PM
Closed Dates:
Fall 2025:
- Monday, 9/1
- Tuesday, 11/4
- Thursday, 11/27
- Friday, 11/28
- Winter Break, 12/22-1/2/26
Spring 2026:
- Tuesday, 3/3
- Spring Break, 3/21-3/28
- Friday, 4/3 (closing early at 12 PM)
- Monday, 5/25
Summer 2026:
- Friday, 7/3
- Thursday, 8/27
- Friday, 8/28
For questions about reservations or cancellations, please contact Little Chicks Learning Academy at chickensoupdaycare@gmail.com or 608-233-1610.
For questions about applying for KidsKare, please contact the Office of Child Care and Family Resources at occfr@provost.wisc.edu or 608-265-4060.
Policies
Payment for Services
Faculty, staff, and student hourly co-pays are paid directly to Little Chicks Learning Academy. Payment is required upon arrival on the date of service.
Hours of Service per Reservation
Parents will be charged for a minimum of two hours per service with a maximum of 10 hours per day.
Late Fees
Center-based late fees for services shall be charged to the parent at a rate of $1.00 per minute.
Cancellation
Cancellations must be called in at 608-233-1610 at least 24 hours in advance. Cancellations made less than 24 hours prior to service will be charged at the full rate per Little Chicks Learning Academy policy.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Who can use KidsKare?
KidsKare was developed to meet the needs of University of Wisconsin-Madison parents for back-up child services. Through the program, income-eligible families pay reduced cost care at Little Chicks Learning Academy.
- UW-Madison student parents enrolled in the Child Care Tuition Assistance Program (CCTAP) may use 50 hours of free KidsKare hours each semester.
- UW-Madison student parents who are not eligible for CCTAP may use 50 hours of reduced cost ($5/hour) care each semester.
- UW-Madison faculty and staff parents (including TAs and research associates) may use 30 hours of reduced cost ($5/hour) care each spring and fall semester only.
Please note, UW-Hospital employees are not eligible for KidsKare.
How do I apply?
You must re-apply each semester you wish to use KidsKare.
Faculty/staff are eligible for Fall/Spring hours only. Research associates, postdoctoral fellows, and postdoctoral trainees are considered staff.
Parenting students are eligible for Fall/Spring/Summer hours if they are enrolled in credits.
Once accepted into KidsKare, you will receive a confirmation email. Eligibility will be verified and a rate determination will be made by our office prior to the start of services.
Do I get more hours if I have more than one child?
Unfortunately, no. KidsKare hours are awarded per household, not per child.
If my spouse/partner is also a UW employee or student, do we each get KidsKare hours?
Unfortunately, no. KidsKare hours are awarded per household.
I'm an employee at UW–Madison. Why don't I qualify for summer KidsKare hours?
Unfortunately due to funding restrictions, we are unable to offer KidsKare (discounted, hourly drop-in care) to faculty and staff in the summer.
However, you may continue to use the drop-in child care service at Little Chicks Learning Academy at their regular rate of $12-14 per hour. Contact Little Chicks Learning Academy to make a reservation or learn more.
What are other back-up child care options?
For more back-up care options, UW families can post babysitting jobs to the UW–Madison Student Job Board or other online marketplace platforms.
Back-up care options are in high demand, and we are continuously looking to expand this service to UW families.
To help us advocate for more back-up care options, please fill out the KidsKare feedback form.
Let us know what you think!
Your responses help us make improvements and secure future KidsKare funding.
