Michigan’s childcare system is in crisis. Childcare costs are unaffordable for most families; there aren’t enough childcare providers to meet the demand; and, childcare workers are not sufficiently compensated for their work, leading to a shrinking workforce. In January 2023, Governor Whitmer and the state legislature took the first step to address the childcare crisis with the rollout of the PreK for All strategy that would provide every four-year-old in Michigan with access to free Prekindergarten by 2027. While progress has been made, the system caring for children zero to three years of age remains in a state of crisis.  As your state representative, I will fight to not only finish the job of expanding free Pre-K access to every four-year-old-in Michigan, but will also fight to ensure our children zero to three are not left behind by:

Continuing to fund free Pre-K for All four-year-olds, which would include the provision of start-up grants and technical assistance for new providers and new classrooms; increased per-pupil funding for providers that must first be used to increase programming to five-days a week and increase teacher’s pay; a state-backed benefits package for teachers that includes health insurance, paid time off, and dental insurance; tuition support for Pre-K teaching credentialing; professional development support for existing staff; and transportation support for children who need it.

Increasing funding for Pre-K for All to expand access to every three-year-old in Michigan by 2030.

Establishing the Zero to Two Childcare Preservation Fund to help providers maintain and expand infant and toddler childcare slots and pay eligible family members who provide care for children ages 0 to 2.