Search | Menu Child Care Coming to Goodman South Campus
A Promise Realized
Madison College and partners celebrated the future child care facility at Goodman South Campus on Dec. 10, signifying a remarkable achievement in the years’ long journey to create this space. This milestone reflects the college's unwavering commitment to empowering its student parents.
Over a year ago, in November 2023, the City of Madison and Madison College announced that the college would assume ownership of the fire station adjacent to Goodman South Campus to develop a licensed child care facility.
After a year of planning, fundraising, and fostering relationships, the details have fallen into place. In recent weeks, the Wisconsin Technical College System approved the multimillion-dollar project providing a crucial step needed to start construction.
What to Expect
The two-story building will feature eight classrooms, including one room dedicated to much needed drop-in care. There will also be a kitchen, multipurpose room, teacher workspace and a collaboration space for Madison College’s early childhood education program.
When it opens its doors in January 2026, the Early Learning Campus at Goodman South will be licensed to care for 75-86 children. Given that many families will have part-time schedules, more than 100 children will benefit from the new traditional child care option and many more from drop-in care per semester.
The Journey
When Madison College planned the Goodman South Campus, which opened in 2019, the vision included child care. Several options and partnerships were explored at that time, but no solutions met the unique needs of student parents.
But the imperative of offering child care for the South Madison community and the 42% of Madison College students who are also parents never went away. College leadership has spent the past five years pursuing options.
“It was not easy to get to this point, but the sustained support of our institutional team, President Daniels, our community, and, of course, our student parents was incredible,” said Dr. Sylvia Ramirez, Executive Vice President, Finance and Administration/Chief Operating Officer at Madison College. “I couldn’t be more pleased to see our child care center for the Goodman South Campus become a reality.”
The Champions
Madison College leadership has consistently demonstrated commitment to providing a viable child care option at the Goodman South Campus. Through support from the City of Madison, they successfully addressed the location issue by purchasing the former fire station.
With significant fundraising obstacles it took the vision and generosity of donors and grantors, large and small, to bring the concept to fruition. Significant contributions have come from the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development, American Family, Madison Community Foundation, the Roots & Wings Foundation, Pleasant T. Rowland Foundation and a Workforce Innovation Grant. Madison College staff and faculty stepped up as well with more than 50 donations coming from a recent fundraising effort.
“Over the past couple of years, it has been absolutely humbling and inspiring to witness the faith that visionary philanthropists, our government partners and other supporters also held in our promise to deliver this critical service to our students and community,” Tina Ahedo, Vice President, Academic Affairs, Regional Campuses at Madison College said.
Generational Impact
Ensuring that Madison College student parents have access to quality affordable child care has a powerful impact not only on the present generations, but future ones as well. Student parents are empowered to pursue their education confidently, nurturing a cycle of academic success and opportunity within families.
“Now is the time to bridge the child care gap for our students. This step forward isn’t just about supporting education; it’s about fostering sustainable futures, enhancing lives, and serving our community for generations to come,” Madison College President Jack E. Daniels III said.
Students with caregiving responsibilities are often forced to choose between their studies and their children — an impossible choice between their family’s present and its future.
Removing this barrier not only helps our student parents complete their credentials and obtain jobs with higher wages and expanded opportunities, but it will also transform generations and provide lasting impact to our communities.
“Access to high quality child care benefits children through increased kindergarten readiness and greater likelihood of college success,” Ramirez said. “And their parents are more likely to complete college and access family sustaining wages, putting families on a different social and economic trajectory.”
