Media Coverage of the release of the Wilder Report, an economic impact study of early childhood efforts in Michigan, January 25, 2010

Excerpt: Listen to the interview here.

Media Coverage Regarding Proposed Cuts to Michigan’s Early Childhood System

Oakland Press, editorial, Sept. 25: Granholm hurting her own programs

Excerpt: "The very programs that are at risk in the current debate are some of the signature efforts of the Granholm administration — namely, the Great Start preschool program and the Michigan Promise Scholarship. Great Start Collaboratives, founded three years ago, have used $6 million in private and public money to implement programs that are unquestioned in their value. For every dollar spent, an additional $1.12 is leveraged from another source.
Oakland County residents traveled to the capital Wednesday to urge local legislators to support early childhood efforts. The Oakland County Great Collaborative used its community plan to obtain a $1.35 million grant from the United Way of Southeastern Michigan. The funds are used to provide hospital newborn visits, home visit services, expulsion prevention and special needs services. A Rand Corp. study says the benefits of early childhood programs outweigh the costs, with a range of between $2 and $7 in economic benefits for every dollar invested."

http://www.theoaklandpress.com/articles/2009/09/25/opinion/doc4abc8c27267dd198365135.prt

Battle Creek Enquirer, news, Oct. 1: Teachers stand by early education

Excerpt: "In Linda Morcombe's classroom at Ann J. Kellogg Elementary School, 36 students are getting their first taste of school this year. To get ready for kindergarten, the 3- and 4-year-olds spend four mornings or afternoons each week learning letters, numbers, shapes and sounds. The first years of a child's life are a crucial time for learning, said Morcombe, a Great Start Readiness teacher. The statewide Great Start Readiness program provides instruction for students the year before they enter kindergarten. "You wait until (ages) five and six and you've lost that window of time," she said."

http://www.battlecreekenquirer.com/article/20091001/NEWS01/910010323/1002/NEWS01

Associated Press, news, Sept. 30: Michigan budget deadline brings out lobbyists, advocates

Excerpt: "The sense of uncertainty hanging over the Michigan Capitol is leaving those with a stake in how the state budget turns out very nervous. Lobbyists sipped coffee and huddled outside the House chamber shortly after its unusually early 8 a.m. start. By midmorning, the throng had grown to dozens of lobbyists standing outside the House and Senate, closely watching television screens showing the votes. Outside, children attended a rally with advocates urging that money for early childhood programs be saved."

www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-ap-mi-statebudget-scene,0,514170.story

Huron Daily Tribune, news, Oct. 2:

Excerpt: "In addition, the state is proposing a 50 percent reduction in early childhood funding, which would affect school districts that have a Great Start Readiness Program (GSRP) for 4-yearolds. The HISD, which operates the GSRP for most of the Huron County school districts, said it would continue to provide this program for this school year, despite the revenue reduction. For Cass City, its GSRP is continuing this year, but will face a $41,300 reduction if the state approves the 50 percent cut."

Link not available

Michigan Public Radio, news, Sept. 30: Budget Stalled in Lansing, Deadline Looms

Excerpt: "Some Democrats in the House say the cuts to schools and early childhood education would hurt Michigan's future more than any other proposed cut. But House Appropriations chairman George Cushingberry says the state has to live within its means."

http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/michigan/news.newsmain/article/0/0/1560605/Michiga...

Greater Lansing Business Monthly, news, Oct. 1: According to a new survey of teachers, Michigan kindergarteners are unprepared to begin school

Excerpt: "The Early Childhood Investment Corporation report says that one in three Michigan children isn't intellectually, socially, physically or emotionally prepared to succeed when entering school for the first time. The 675 teachers who responded to the survey also overwhelmingly (86 percent) said the needs of the "unprepared" kindergarteners detract from instructors' abilities to teach the rest of the class. They say it shows the "urgent need" for school-readiness programs."

http://www.lansingbusinessmonthly.com/index.php/articles/department-columns/110-curre...

Observer & Eccentric, news, Oct. 1: District braces for cutbacks in state funding

Excerpt: "And when cuts in the Great Starts early childhood fund are factored in, the per pupil loss would increase to $390 per student, or $2.064 million. "This comes as a kick in the teeth," school board President Patrick McNally said. "The $218 sets us back two years of work. With the $800,000, it's four-five years. Things are only going to get tougher and I don't think there's a solution for it."

http://www.hometownlife.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20091001/NEWS08/91001060...

Detroit News, commentary, H. Luke Shaefer, University of Michigan, Oct. 1: Michigan can't afford social services cuts

Excerpt: "Who would be hurt by these cuts? In the Senate version, it would be young children, especially in at-risk neighborhoods. The proposal would eliminate the Early Childhood Investment Corporation that offers programs that nurture young children. Research is at near-consensus that such programs are the closest thing we have to a silver bullet, helping the lives of participants for decades. Ending the child care subsidies program would cause children from hard-working families to lose access to decent quality child care opportunities. Michigan's poor families are working harder than ever, but their earnings often barely cover quality childcare expenses. These subsidies are crucial to their success in the labor market."

http://www.detnews.com/article/20091001/OPINION01/910010385/1008/opinion01/Michigan-can-t-afford-social-services-cuts

TV 9&10, Traverse City, news, Sept. 30: Families worried over cuts to early childhood

Excerpt: "People around the state are keeping a close eye on Lansing leading up to the budget deadline. State money helps run many early childhood programs and even helps some parents pay for it. "If money goes away, parents will either have to quit their jobs and we've heard from lots of parents saying that's what they'll have to do, or they'll choose lower quality of care for their children," says Maggie Sprattmoran, Executive Director of the Leelanau Children's Center."

http://www.9and10news.com/category/story/?id=173928
 

Ionia Sentinel Standard, news, Sept. 28: Law enforcement: Invest in children to fight crime

Excerpt: "Ionia County Sheriff Dwain Dennis, an executive committee member of the Michigan chapter of the non-profit organization Fight Crime: Invest in Kids, said a key to crime prevention and keeping prison expenses down is through the education and development of young children up to five years old."

http://www.sentinel-standard.com/articles/2009/09/15/news/03news.txt

Jackson Citizen Patriot, editorial, Sept. 27: Budget woe offers chance for reform

Excerpt: "Let's be clear: Opposing new taxes today is not the same thing as advocating for a gutted state government. Local governments, early-childhood programs and college students all will lose out if this budget takes effect

next week. The social safety net created by government and many nonprofits will continue to fray."

http://www.mlive.com/opinion/jackson/

Kalamazoo Gazette, commentary, Sept. 26: We love kids until it comes time to pay

Excerpt: "Children are America's future. Raise your hand if you believe that. Yes? Everybody have a hand up? Well, of course! What kind of person would declare him- or herself to be anti-child? But what are the realities of our political priorities? We have a state budget crisis that threatens to whack away at state funding for early-childhood services, K-12 monies and scholarship dollars for college students, deeming those cuts a more favorable outcome than, say, taxing an elderly couple with a six-figure pension."

http://www.mlive.com/opinion/kalamazoo/index.ssf/2009/09/we_love_kids_until_it_comes_ti.html

The Niles Star, news, Sept. 26: Cuts could reduce programs to elderly, disabled and those families in need

Excerpt: "For the Department of Human Services, which operates the state's public welfare system as well as programs and services to children, adults, the disabled, elderly and families in need – that means a proposed cut of $169 million to its overall budget. "These cuts are too large, too deep, too damaging, and undermine the safety net needed to protect so many vulnerable children, adults and families," Ismael Ahmed, DHS director said in a statement."

http://www.nilesstar.com/2009/09/25/cuts-could-reduce-programs-to-elderly-disabled-and-those-families-in-need/

Michigan Policy Network, commentary, Sept. 24: Is Michigan's future in Jeopardy?

Excerpt: "Michigan is currently in the process of deciding the State's budget and early childhood funding has been proposed to take a large amount of cuts. Not only are people worrying about this from educational standpoints for Michigan's future but also from a position for the community's well-being."

http://www.ednews.org/articles/michigan-kids-not-ready-for-kindergarten.html

Escanaba Daily Press, news, Sept. 24: Group wants to give kids ‘great start'

Excerpt: "The Delta-Schoolcraft Great Start Collaborative is helping to ensure infants and young children in the community are ready to succeed in school and life. The collaborative believes children who get a great start, have a better chance at a great future, which means a better future for all."

http://www.dailypress.net/page/content.detail/id/514957.html?nav=5003&showlayout=0

Detroit News, commentary, Sen. Mike Prusi, Sept. 22: Don't quit on kids to balance state budget

Excerpt: "Our goal is to make sure that in the rush to balance the budget we do not make extreme, dangerous cuts in areas that affect people's lives or cut in a way that damages our long-term ability to sustain an economic recovery. Our No. 1 goal must be to create a state that attracts jobs and people."

http://www.detnews.com/article/20090922/OPINION01/909220318/1008/opinion01/Don-t-quit-on-kids-to-balance-state-budget

Livingston Daily, news, Sept. 22: State employees, college students to rally at Capitol today

Excerpt: "This morning, members of the Eaton County Great Start Collaborative, a group that supports early childhood programs, were visiting the House and Senate chambers this morning to meet with lawmakers in hopes of preserving these programs. Early childhood programs, which prepare preschool children for kindergarten, may be cut by as much as $200 million next year under currentproposals."

http://www.livingstondaily.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090922/NEWS01/90922002

Ludington Daily News, news, Sept. 22: Early childhood education is econ development In an increasingly competitive world, U.S. must invest in children, speaker argues

Excerpt: "Even as the fate of early childhood education funding in Michigan for 2010 hangs in the balance in the state Capitol in Lansing, Bill Millett, president of Scope View Strategic Advantage told the Economic Club of West Michigan that the case for early childhood education has too often been sold in the wrong way."

http://www.ludingtondailynews.com/news.php?story_id=45932

Jackson Citizen-Patriot, news story, Sept. 21: Possible cuts haunt agencies

Excerpt: The state's preschool program -- which is at risk of being cut -- provides free preschool to more than 700 at-risk children in Jackson, said Sheri Butters, director of the Jackson County Great Start Collaborative. ``It's not an option for these families to be able to provide preschool,' she said. ``Sometimes this is the only option for them.' Mike Kanser, co-chair of the local Great Start Collaborative, said it is alarming that early childhood is being taken out of the budget. ``It just seems like the wrong thing to do, especially with the momentum that early childhood has gotten over the years,' he said. ``If you don't have an early start, you're playing catch-up for the rest of your life.'

http://www.mlive.com/news/citpat/index.ssf?/base/news-29/1253541908194230.xml&coll=3

Hometown Life, news, Sept. 20: Southfield chief: Early education cuts prison costs

Excerpt: "Lawmakers to invest in early education now so that the state will spend less on prison time later. That's the opinion of Joseph E. Thomas Jr., chief of police in Southfield and a state co-chairman of the crime prevention nonprofit organization, Fight Crime: Invest in Kids Michigan. Research indicates that high quality early learning programs for at-risk children up to five years old can significantly reduce crime and ultimately cut corrections costs by 25 percent or more, according to a police department press release. Currently in Michigan, there are more than 79,000 incarcerated adults in jails and state prisons, with corrections costs exceeding $2 billion every year. Michigan would save about $500 million in taxpayer dollars, if it cut prison costs by 25 percent by investing in early learning, according to Thomas."

http://www.hometownlife.com/article/20090920/NEWS20/909200359

Lansing State Journal, news, Sept. 20: Local police officials call for early childhood funding

Excerpt: "Ionia County leaders of the crime-prevention nonprofit organization - Fight Crime: Invest in Kids Michigan - released a research brief entitled, "Invest in Early Education Now, Spend Less on Prison Later." The research indicates that high-quality early learning programs for at-risk children ages birth to 5 can significantly reduce crime and ultimately cut corrections costs by a quarter or more."

http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2009909200371

Detroit Free Press, commentary, Fight Crime: Invest in Kids Michigan, Sept. 16: Preschool funds pay off later

Excerpt: Fight Crime: "Invest in Kids' members are the sheriffs, police chiefs, prosecutors and crime survivors. The more than 400 Michigan members know that intervening early in children's lives is the best way to prevent violence and crime."

http://www.freep.com/article/20090916/OPINION05/909160320/1322/If-you-think-Obama-is-like-the-Nazis--you-need-a-history-lesson/Preschool-funds-pay-off-later&template=fullarticle

Kalamazoo Gazette, news story, Sept. 17: Prayer vigil seeks to protect preschools from budget cuts

Excerpt: "Jordan and his daughter were among hundreds of people who attended a prayer vigil at Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Kalamazoo on Wednesday night. Parents, children, community members, educators and clergy gathered to pray for the preservation of state-funded preschool programs, which are on the chopping block as the state looks to close a $2.8 million budget gap."

http://www.mlive.com/news/kzgazette/index.ssf?/base/news-35/1253199038143080.xml&coll=7

Detroit News, editorial, Sept. 17: Painful consequences

Excerpt: "Education advocates already are bemoaning the potential loss of a $104-million program that gets kids ready to learn before they start school, along with about $300 million in other early childhood education-related spending reductions. The Senate plan would slash the state's basic K-12 school funding $110 per pupil or $174 million in total. Gone also would be Michigan Promise scholarships of up to $4,000 for eligible college students. This is all very harsh and ultimately will harm Michigan's ability to recover."

http://www.detnews.com/article/20090918/OPINION01/909180330/1008/opinion01/Editorial++Painful+consequences

Detroit Free Press, editorial, Sept. 16: Heirs of bad budgeting

Excerpt: "The Senate axed the state's preschool program, and some school districts have already dropped what they offered. Others pieced together funding to open preschool classrooms this month but may well be ruing their decision as Lansing dithers. Preschool is among the most effective tools to ensure that a state has productive citizens in the decades to come, as law enforcement officials point out below. But children also will be hit hard by Senate budget cuts in welfare, day care and other medical and social services. Additionally, the preschool money served as a match for federal funds, meaning even more reductions in services if the cut stands."

http://www.freep.com/article/20090916/OPINION01/909160318/1336/

American Medical News.com, news story, Sept. 14: States targeting Medicaid physician pay

Excerpt: Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm implemented a 4% across-the-board cut to Medicaid fees on July 1. The state's Medicaid HMOs are expected to pass the reductions along to physicians, who are required to contract with them, said Charles J. Barone II, MD, president of the Michigan chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics. Physician fees are negotiated with the HMOs and vary around the state. Some doctors are paid more than Medicare rates to see Medicaid patients, Dr. Barone said, while others are not as well compensated.

Granholm and the Legislature are in the midst of budget negotiations that are expected to include additional Medicaid fee cuts to address a $2.8 billion budget deficit for fiscal 2010, which begins Oct. 1. "We're all kind of holding our breath," Dr. Barone said.

http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/09/14/gvsb0914.htm

WATZ-AM 1450, Alpena, news, Sept. 10: Michigan early ed, not prison," WATZ-AM 1450 - Alpena, Sept. 10, 2009.

No excerpt available

www.watz.com/wire/localnews/06997_Thursday-Morning-State-News-Summary_050621.php

NPR 90, Marquette, Sept. 10: Youth crime prevention may save money for the state."  www.publicbroadcasting.net/wnmu/news.newsmain/article/0/0/1555882/Local.News/Youth.crime.prevention.may.save.money.for.the.state

Lansing State Journal, commentary, Jack Kresnak, Michigan's Children, Sept. 13: What does Michigan gain by slashing programs for kids?

Excerpt: "The proposed cuts will virtually ensure that more families will struggle to meet their children's basic physical and emotional needs, more children will be placed in expensive foster care, more kids will enter school ill-prepared to learn, and more teenagers will drop out of school."

http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/article/20090913/OPINION02/909130623/0/OPINION/Kresnak--What-does-Michigan-gain-by-slashing-programs-for-kids

Detroit Free Press, editorial, Sept. 9: A budget plan at last

Excerpt: "In all, the governor would reduce government spending by more than $1 billion dollars, year-to-year. It's not exactly a pretty picture, but on balance it offers more stability for the state than what the state Senate has passed. That plan, which until Tuesday was the only proposal for public consumption, would have cut too deeply in core state services such as Medicaid and early childhood learning."

http://www.freep.com/article/20090909/OPINION01/909090317/1069/OPINION01/A-budget-plan--at-last

WJR-AM Detroit, Paul W. Smith show, Sept. 11: Interview with Judy Samelson, CEO Early Childhood Investment Corp.

Excerpt (Smith speaking): "If there's any school money out there, it should be going to early school learning. I do believe early in the game is where you can have the impact."

No link available

Lansing State Journal, news story, Sept.10: Group champions early education

Excerpt: "The Lansing office of national nonprofit Fight Crime: Invest in Kids is urging state legislators to continue funding early childhood programs in order to curb future crime. ‘Kids that have a better start have a better opportunity at being successful at school as opposed to turning to a life of crime,' said Byron Konschuh, Lapeer County prosecutor and member of the state's Fight Crime executive committee."

http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/article/20090910/NEWS05/909100330

Gongwer News, news story, Sept. 9: Groups urge funding of early education to prevent crime

Excerpt: "The state could begin to see immediate savings both in corrections and education costs if it continues funding, said K.P. Pelleran, Michigan director of Fight Crime: Invest In Kids. Funding for visiting nurse pre-natal programs as well as early education programs such as Head Start can reduce the chance that children will either need special education or be forced to repeat a grade, both of which cost the state more."

http://www.gongwer.com/programming/login.cfm?link=news_articledisplay.cfm?article_ID=481730111%26newsedition_id=4817301%26locid=1&CFID=2897966&CFTOKEN=82218953

Kalamazoo Gazette, commentary, Mark Dobias, superintendent, Allegan County Educational Service Agency, Sept. 9: Preschool programs work; Legislature must find way to provide funding

Excerpt: "I would not want to be a member of either branch of the Michigan Legislature right now. The days of simply trimming the fat are gone. It now boils down to which great program to cut. I want to highlight one program that cannot be allowed to wither and die on the vine. This is the Great Start Readiness Program (GSRP), a preschool program funded by the state."

http://www.mlive.com/opinion/kalamazoo/index.ssf/2009/09/viewpoint_preschool_programs_w.html

NBC 25, WEYI, Flint, Saginaw, Bay City, news story, Sept. 10: Two hundred million dollars for Head Start and pre-kindergarten programs is on the chopping block

Excerpt:  "Across Michigan Wednesday, members of Fight Crime: Invest in Kids Michigan, made up of 400 law enforcement leaders, asked the governor and legislators not to cut funding to early education. Two hundred million dollars for Head Start and pre-kindergarten programs is on the chopping block. Assistant Prosecutor Matt Wiese points to research that shows kids who attend preschool are less likely to commit crimes as adults, and that will save the state corrections money in the future. ‘This spending prevents future crimes from happening,' said Wiese. ‘We know that for every dollar we spend on early childhood development, that we save $10 later on in the system, whether that be in law enforcement, courts, criminal prosecution, or incarceration.'"

http://www.connectmidmichigan.com/news/story_print.aspx?id=348203&type=story

NBC 16, WNDU, South Bend, Ind., news story, Sept. 10: Financial problems loom for Michigan Schools

Excerpt: "The senate budget would trim per pupil financial support by 110-dollars while eliminating state funding for categorical programs such as adult education, vocational education, and early childhood education through the so-called "Zero to Four" program. The situation means that some school districts might not be able to finish some of the educational programs that they started this week."

http://www.wndu.com/hometop/headlines/58641017.html

TV6 (WLUC), news story, Sept. 9: Two hundred million dollars for Head Start and pre-kindergarten programs is on the chopping block

Excerpt: "Across Michigan Wednesday, members of Fight Crime: Invest in Kids Michigan, made up of 400 law enforcement leaders, asked the governor and legislators not to cut funding to early education."

http://www.uppermichiganssource.com/news/story.aspx?id=348203

Michigan Public Radio Network, news story by Rick Pluta, Sept. 9: Tempers Cool in Budget Battle

Excerpt: "But he says they still agree that big cuts being called for by Republicans are a bad idea, and the state's going to have to find additional revenue to balance the budget. ‘I think she and I are on the same page when it comes to, really, what the fight is about right now, if you look to next year's budget is we don't believe in eliminating all scholarships for college kids. We don't believe in a 20 percent cut to revenue sharing. We don't believe in cuts to early ed. We don't believe in cuts to Medicaid."

http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/michigan/news.newsmain/article/0/1/1552478/Michigan.News/Democratic.Tempers.Cool.in.Budget.Battle

 Lansing State Journal, letter to the editor, Sept. 9: Save childhood funds

Excerpt: "I realize the Senate made broad-sweeping cuts to balance the budget. However, the outcome of losing these important programs will cost future taxpayers abundantly more. As a third-grade teacher and the 2009-10 Michigan Teacher of the Year, I have witnessed the benefits of early intervention and support systems for young children. Not only are they more academically equipped to begin school, but also cost the school districts far less in remediation and special education services. Many cost/benefit analyses have found that investing in early childhood services saves 15 percent to 17 percent annually in later expenditures."

http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/article/20090909/OPINION02/909090308/1087/OPINION02

Lansing State Journal, letter to the editor, Sept. 8: Shield child funds

Excerpt: "Over the last eight years, my family has personally benefitted from wonderful programs such as Great Parents Great Start. Attendance at their weekly playgroup led to my son's referral to Early-On for a speech delay.

I am forever grateful to this program for their assistance in helping him get connected to needed services. As a result, I am proud to say that my son is ready and eager to enter kindergarten this fall. Michigan legislators have many difficult decisions to make regarding our state's budget shortfalls."

http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/article/20090908/OPINION02/909080305/1087/OPINION02

Detroit Free Press, editorial blog, Sept. 4: Read my lips -- then bust my chops on taxes

Excerpt: "Michigan must raise taxes now. You don't want to hear it. Neither do I. But a $2.7 billion hole in next year's budget can't be plugged by more cuts or, for the immediate future, even with big-ticket reforms, without turning Michigan into the Mississippi of the North — or worse. Cutting early childhood education, Medicaid, mental health services, community college aid, clothing grants to poor children, police and fire protection, revenue sharing to cities, and tax credits for the working poor is neither fair nor effective."

http://www.freep.com/article/20090904/BLOG2505/90904011/1322/Read-my-l