Opinion: Historic early education funding will boost all Michigan children

Children who begin their education early have a greater chance of achieving success throughout the rest of their time in school, which has effects that will ripple out throughout the rest of their lives.

That is not an opinion. That is just a fact.

Yet our traditional education system has historically failed to provide support for every child during their pre-K years, causing early childhood education to be wrought with inequity. Children born into families that can afford top-tier preschools often begin their education with a clear advantage over their peers who don’t have access to the same opportunities.

Our shared values support the idea that every child deserves a fair start and the opportunity to reach their fullest potential in life. That begins with access to quality early education. I have been proud to fight for this cause for almost two decades, since my time on the Great Start Collaborative for Early Childhood Education in Washtenaw County and my local school board. It has been a long road.

Now, we have taken the promise statewide.

When I first sat down at my desk last January after being elected House Democratic Leader, early childhood education for every child was on a short list of “dream” goals I penned and tucked in my desk drawer. Quite honestly, I wasn’t sure it was possible. As a parent, I knew what it would mean for working families across our state. But after a decade of fighting against the current to provide high-quality, accessible pre-K education opportunities for every child, I knew it would be an uphill battle.

What I didn’t expect was the support I would receive from my partners in the Legislature and the governor’s office. Perhaps the COVID-19 crisis has forced us to collectively re-evaluate our priorities, or perhaps it’s just a natural evolution of our values, but we seem to have reached a turning point in our society, and the idea of universal access to pre-K is gaining momentum. So we had the will, and when once-in-a-lifetime federal funding provided the means, we seized the opportunity.

I recently sat down at the table with my legislative colleagues and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to pass a historic education budget to expand the Great Start Readiness Program across Michigan. The recently signed budget will increase funding for GSRP by $168 million and increase the full day per-pupil allowance to match the K-12 funding at $8,700 per child. The funding increase will also expand access by eliminating waitlists and closing the current service gap between qualifying children and funded slots.

This funding will transform our early childhood education system and close the opportunity gap for children of working families. More Michigan children will now enjoy the proven advantages that come along with quality pre-K, like increased literacy levels and high school graduation rates.

Early childhood education is not only good for our children – it's good for working families who need more safe, affordable child care options while they work.

The impact of this momentous funding cannot be overstated. This is a crucial step toward leveling the playing field for all Michigan families. Every parent wants what’s best for their child, but for many, their options have been limited until now.

I will always treasure the moment I crossed this off that little list tucked in my desk drawer. I will think of the countless children that will have new opportunities to reach greater heights in life, but we must still look to the future and tackle the next challenge with a renewed belief that historic change is truly within reach.