So what ultimately happened to early childhood in the state budget? Michigan's Children, a statewide, independent voice for Michigan's children, has a wonderful recap in the November edition of "Budget Basics." I've excerpted (with permission) the "early childhood education portion of the report below, although you should definitely check out the entire report by clicking here.
Michigan's Children also has a great e-newsletter, which I recommend to you. Also, they've posted a few videos on YouTube featuring parents talking about budget cuts to early childhood.
According to "Budget Basics," the budget:
- Provides continuation funding for school district grants for the Great Start Readiness (GSRP) preschool program ($88.4 million). The Governor and the House had recommended continuation funding, while the Senate budget eliminated all funding for the GSRP.
- Cuts in half the GSRP competitive program (from $15.2 million to $7.6 million). The Governor and the House had recommended continuation funding, while the Senate budget eliminated all funding.
- Reduces the School Aid contribution to the 0 to 3 Secondary Prevention program (also known as Early Childhood Grants) by 25 percent (from $2.13 million to $1.6 million). The Governor and the Senate had recommended that funding for the grants be eliminated, while the House had provided for continuation funding. The Governor vetoed this funding but retained funding for
the 0 to 3 Secondary Prevention program in the DHS budget ($4 million). - Retains current year funding for the Great Parents/Great Start program ($5 million). The Governor and the Senate proposed to eliminate all funding for the program, while the House had provided for continuation funding.
- Reduces funding for Early Childhood Investment Corporation (ECIC) grants by $750,000 or 11 percent to a total of $6 million. The Governor and the House had maintained full funding.
Andy Heller is Communications Director at ECIC. Bio.
Comments: (2)
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1 this is a great program for the kids you need not to cut the money. so many people depend on the help they get through this program for them as well as the children. i can say from personal experince that this program has been a god sent for me and my children as we have gone through hell and back this past year. Tracy Truske has cbeen a live saver literally for us and my children love t he play groups please dont cancell this funding
-- michelle bernhardt
2 I am a single mother of 5, 4 of which are in special ed. I am a fulltime student. My son has speech and language and hearing issues. The earl on head start program in Hartland was canceled so now my son has to go to my classes with me 2 days a week for 4 hours. He needs his education too. I can't afford babysitting but preschool is not babysitting so long as it serves as an educational purpose. School will prepare him for kindnergarten next fall. I know my family will benefit from the preschools. I can't say I am the only one...
-- Melissa Loveday-Rohr