Michigan’s FY26 State Budget Update: What’s in it for Young Children? | | |
Michigan’s Legislature has made some progress with the development of the fiscal year 2026 budget, which begins on October 1, 2026. The Senate advanced their FY2026 budget bills in May, and the House passed their budgets for education and the Michigan Department for Lifelong Education, Achievement, and Potential (MiLEAP) last week. The backdrop to the budget bills is the $320 million shortfall in state general fund revenues, which was announced at the May Consensus Revenue Estimating Conference, meaning lawmakers will have significantly fewer dollars to work with as they shape the FY2026 state budget.
The House needs to pass its other budget bills including the budget for the Department of Health and Human Services which oversees Medicaid and other important programs that support the well-being of families with young children. And the House and Senate will need to negotiate significant differences between their budget proposals including funding differences related to the child care scholarship program, Great Start Collaboratives and Family Coalitions, and the Great Start Readiness Program.
Lawmakers need to hear from you to make informed decisions as they iron out their differences in funding these important early childhood programs.
Learn more about the FY26 budget proposals and how you can take action in our latest blog post and check out ECIC’s FY26 budget tracker.
| | Great Start to Quality’s New Program Openings Feature | | |
Great Start to Quality (GSQ) helps families across Michigan find child care that meets their needs! With PreK for All expanding capacity for 4-year-olds across the state, Great Start to Quality can connect families to the right program for them.
GSQ’s child care search tool now offers a Program Openings feature, where child care/PreK providers and businesses can share up-to-date information with families about their current enrollment capacity. On the program’s profile, an “Openings Available” button will now show along with the type of openings and the date when the openings were last updated. It is important to note that families will only see program openings updated within the last 35 days, so encourage programs to update their openings often.
We invite our partners to spread the word about this new feature using the Program Openings Communication Toolkit! Help child care providers update their full-time, part-time, and PreK openings regularly so that families can find current information. The toolkit includes social media graphics, flyers for professional and office printing, and promotional PowerPoint slides.
With any questions about this feature, please reach out to Great Start to Quality or have providers contact their local GSQ Resource Center at 1-877-614-7328.
| | New Investment Supports Local Solutions to Michigan’s Child Care Challenges | |
MiLEAP has announced funding for 10 Regional Child Care Coalitions dedicated to expanding access to affordable, high-quality child care across Michigan. These locally led coalitions are driving community-based solutions to support children, families, and early educators. With state and federal investment, this initiative strengthens Michigan’s early childhood system while addressing regional workforce and access challenges. Read the full press release to learn more about the coalitions and their impact.
| | ECIC Welcomes New Senior Director of External Affairs, Isaias Solis | |
The Early Childhood Investment Corporation (ECIC) is pleased to announce Isaias Solis as Senior Director of External Affairs. Solis, a recognized leader in his field, is a dedicated community advocate who is originally from Mexico City and grew up in Detroit with his mother and sister. He brings with him a passion for empowering communities and promoting equity and inclusion, while breaking down systemic barriers to self-sufficiency.
Solis’s previous roles include Senior Director of Programs at Erie Neighborhood House, Deputy Empowerment Zone Chief at the South Bend Empowerment Zone, and Director of Programs at the Latin United Community Housing Association (LUCHA).
| | Acting for Young Kids & Families | | Building Blocks Legislation Introduced in the State Senate, Proposes to Cut Costs for Families | | |
On May 12, Michigan State Senate Democrats introduced the “Building Blocks” legislative package intended to cut costs for families with young children. All six bills have been referred to the Senate Committee on Housing and Human Services for review.
Key proposals include:
- SB 308: Creates an annual $5,500 tax credit for working parents with children under age three
- SB 309: Proposes expansion of Rx Kids, a program to help boost financial stability for parents of infants under one year
- SB 310: Codifies the bipartisan program, Tri-Share, which splits the cost of child care equally among employers, the state, and employees
- SB 311: Mandates inflation-based adjustments to child care reimbursements
- SB 312: Establishes a formal appeals process for providers facing regulatory violations
- SB 313: Seeks to improve licensing and oversight for child care providers
For updates, you can visit the Michigan Legislature’s website.
| | MiLEAP Expands Tri-Share Child Care Program | The Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential (MiLEAP) has expanded the MI Tri-Share Child Care program, increasing eligibility to families earning up to 400% of the federal poverty limit. This public-private initiative splits child care costs equally among the state, employers, and employees, easing financial burdens for families and helping businesses attract and retain talent. With more than 250 participating employers and $8.6 million saved by families to date, this expansion reinforces Michigan’s commitment to strengthening its workforce and supporting child care access statewide. Learn more in MiLEAP’s Press Release. | | Senate Considers Bill That Would Reduce Medicaid and SNAP Funding | | |
With a 215-214 vote, the U.S. House of Representatives passed its budget reconciliation bill in the early morning of May 22. It is now being considered in the U.S. Senate. The bill, known as the “One Big Beautiful Bill,” includes hundreds of billions of dollars in cuts to Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
Below are a few ways you can engage in advocacy as we work collectively to stop these program cuts:
| | Early Childhood Advocates' Corner | | Championing Quality Care for All Children | | |
Felicitas Gonzalez Membrillo, a Great Start to Quality Assessor at ECIC, is using her voice to uplift early childhood education in her community. Through a fellowship with Detroit PBS, she helped create a free Spanish-language training for educators which is now available on MiRegistry. She has also participated in creating a video sharing tips to create a kid friendly reading area. Her fellowship and story are powerful reminders of how community-rooted leadership can drive inclusive, quality care for children and families.
| Webinar Recap: Understanding Michigan's Licensed Child Care Deserts | | |
On May 6, 2025, Michigan State University (MSU) and MiLEAP co-hosted a webinar exploring Michigan’s Licensed Child Care Deserts Map, led by Dr. Jamie Wu, Holli Schlukebir, and Marissa Castellana. The session showcased findings from their collaborative Child Care Mapping Project, which illustrates how many children are competing for a single licensed child care slot across various regions of the state.
This important work is designed to inform policymakers, community leaders, and stakeholders working to expand access to quality child care throughout Michigan. A recording of the webinar is available for anyone unable to attend.
| | Building a Stronger Village: One Parent’s Journey to Child Care Advocacy | | | | Cressie Vargo knows the challenges of finding child care firsthand. As a mother in rural Michigan and a former Head Start advocate, she’s seen how a lack of access can impact families, careers, and entire communities. Her experiences led her to join Think Babies Michigan, where she now helps drive change for working parents across the state. | | | Career Opportunities at ECIC | | Starting a career at ECIC means joining a mission-driven organization dedicated to improving outcomes for children and families. Visit our Careers page to discover current opportunities and become part of a team making a meaningful impact in early childhood systems. Current openings include Grants and Contract Manager and Program Manager - Regional Child Care Coalition. | | | | |
