Michigan’s PreK for All now includes home-based childcare
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LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) — Michigan’s PreK for All program now includes home-based childcare, the state announced Monday.
PreK for All is a state program that helps fund and facilitate early learning care for Michigan children at no cost, with parents finding and applying to participating programs in their area. Now, with the help of the PreK for All Home-Based Pilot Initiative, home-based childcare programs are eligible to participate.
“Every child deserves a strong start and thanks to our hard work and historic investments over half of Michigan four-year-olds are enrolled in the Great Start Readiness Program,” said Governor Gretchen Whitmer. “Now, we’re expanding to more locations ensuring all children and families can participate in PreK for All in the place that works best for their child and their family.
State officials say the pilot is focused on communities who need it the most, such as communities where traditional childcare is harder to find or otherwise unavailable.
“This pilot is about giving more families access to PreK in settings that work for them,” said Emily Laidlaw, deputy director of the Office of Early Education at MiLEAP. “By supporting home-based providers in this pilot program, we’re expanding access to high-quality PreK in areas that may not be able to support larger centers.”
The pilot program will be administered by the following organizations:
Child Care Network – serving Genesee, Lenawee, Livingston, Monroe, and Washtenaw counties
Northwest Michigan Works! (in consortium with 4C of the UP) – serving Antrim, Benzie, Charlevoix, Emmet, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, Leelanau, Manistee, Missaukee, Wexford counties, and all counties in the Upper Peninsula
Southwest Child Care Resource & Referral – serving Allegan, Barry, Berrien, Calhoun, Cass, Kalamazoo, St. Joseph, and Van Buren counties
To participate, home-based providers must hold a a Child Development Associate (CDA) credential or demonstrate quality through Michigan’s Great Start to Quality (GSQ) improvement system.
PreK for all is open for enrollment. You can learn more about the program at this link.
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