Advocates Continue to Sound Alarm as Preschool Budget Moves Through the Michigan Legislature | |
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A total of 1,165 individuals, including 909 constituents from across the state and 256 organizations and businesses have signed on to voice their concerns regarding the House budget proposal. This proposal includes provisions that potentially exclude community-based organizations (CBOs) from participating in the PreK for All initiative.
ECIC and early childhood advocates are also concerned about a provision in the Senate budget proposal that would require CBOs to pay their GSRP teachers at the same rate as GSRP teachers employed by public schools within their prosperity regions, but without the same level of public investment that would allow CBOs to afford to do so.
As the state budget process moves forward, selected members of the House and Senate will be meeting together in Conference Committees during the next 1-2 weeks to negotiate differences in each of the chambers’ budget proposals. Advocates are strongly encouraged to continue contacting their lawmakers, as well as members of the School Aid Budget Conference Committee, to share their perspectives regarding these issues and to ensure young children and their families are prioritized in the state budget.
| Register Now: A Year of Success and Insight | |
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What does it look like when family and parent leadership is embedded in your work?
Join the ECIC NCFPL team's latest webinar Thursday, June 20, 2024 at 12-1 p.m. ET to learn from their successes and insights to enhance your understanding of family and parent leadership as a practice.
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In Policy: Acting for Young Kids & Families | |
Consensus Revenue Estimating Conference (CREC) | |
On May 17, the Consensus Revenue Estimating Conference, or CREC, convened to establish an official economic forecast for Michigan ahead of the final FY25 State Budget. This conference brought together the House Fiscal Agency, Senate Fiscal Agency, and Department of Treasury to present revenues and revise estimates for the coming fiscal year. While the economists agree early estimates from January are in line with current projections, the state has seen a decrease in Sales Tax revenues that directly impacts Michigan’s School Aid Fund. While these decreases have resulted in a slight adjustment, future year-over-year projections are expected to set new record highs for the School Aid Fund. | |
U.S. Representative Proposes “Child Care Agenda” | |
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Representative Katherine Clark (Massachusetts 5th District), Democratic Minority Whip of the United States House of Representatives, announced her Affordable Child Care Agenda. Representative Clark invites citizens to reimagine the nation’s early care and education system making it more affordable for families, more accessible for children, and fairer wages for the workforce. Learn more and become a citizen sponsor.
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Early Childhood Advocates' Corner | |
FY25 Budget Highlight: Early On | |
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Michigan’s Early On system provides early intervention services, free of charge, to all families with eligible infants and toddlers, from birth to age three, who have a qualifying disability, delay in development, or a medical condition. Early On receives federal and state support to provide early intervention services available at no charge to children and families, regardless of household income. Advocates are calling on lawmakers to support the FY25 House Proposed Budget that includes a $17 million increase in state funding to intermediate school districts who coordinate local Early On service delivery.
More state funding is needed because the need has grown rapidly in recent years and the combined state and federal investments still only cover a small proportion of the true costs of service delivery. Over the last year, referrals for services have risen by 27 percent from pre-pandemic levels.
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A dad, an advocate for families, and a champion of fatherhood, has shared his expertise with ECIC. Derek's work in Kalamazoo County began with his own fatherhood journey and has grown to encompass a multitude of resources for fathers and the entire parenting community. | |
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Get Involved: In the Community | |
Join ECIC for Adaptive Schools training this summer! The 4-day Adaptive Schools training series will be held at the ECIC office in Lansing, MI. These are full day, in person training sessions, on July 18-19 and August 8-9. Learn more here and reach out to Jenn Rountree to register. | MiLEAP Wants to Hear Your Story! | |
To help inform efforts to improve services to all families in Michigan, the Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential (MiLEAP) is inviting 100 families to submit their story about looking for and receiving services for their family and young child(ren), including child care, education and child development, home visiting, maternal and child health and wellness, and financial support. To learn more about this opportunity and share it with others, please see the flyer available in English, Spanish, and Arabic. | |
June 20 Technical Assistance Session | |
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Join Great Start to Quality on Zoom for our next TA session on Thursday, June 20 from 1-2:30 p.m. We will be diving into the LearnERS platform, CLASS coaching support, and other useful coaching resources to support your work with providers.
Optional: Please watch the LearnERS Overview prior to the meeting.
Bring your questions and ideas about engaging providers in setting goals and ways to better support coaching
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