Michigan tests expanding free ‘pre-K for all’ to home child-care providers

April 27, 2026

Michigan has launched a $1. 5 million pilot program that extends no-cost pre-kindergarten to home-based childcare providers for the first time, serving 75-80 children aged 3-4. The federally-funded initiative runs through spring and summer with potential continuation into the next school year, providing funding for coaching, curriculum, materials and assessments.

Who is affected

75-80 children aged 3-4 participating in the pilot program
Home-based childcare providers across Michigan (3,344 group homes or family childcare sites statewide)
Lori Leggert and the children at The Sky's the Limit Family Childcare
Parents like Taylor Provost who are saving approximately $2,600
Nearly 55,000 students currently enrolled in Michigan's Great Start Readiness Program statewide
4-year-olds across Michigan eligible for "pre-K for all"

What action is being taken

The pilot program is running over spring and summer
Two children at Leggert's childcare center are participating in the program
Participants are receiving funds for coaching, curriculum, materials and assessments
Leggert is teaching young children about various subjects including living and nonliving things
The MiEarly Apprentice program is allowing paraprofessionals to obtain college degrees and teaching certificates

Why it matters

This pilot program addresses a significant gap in Michigan's pre-K system by including home-based providers, who represent an "untapped resource" of 3,344 sites statewide. It provides families with more educational choices, allowing them to keep preschoolers with younger siblings in smaller, more intimate settings while still accessing quality education at no cost. The program offers financial relief to families (approximately $2,600 in savings) while maintaining Michigan's ranking as one of the few states meeting all 10 quality benchmarks for pre-K, and it provides more flexible hours that traditional school settings cannot accommodate.

What's next

The pilot program has potential to continue into the coming school year. Advocates hope that students in home settings will perform at least as well on assessments as students in childcare centers or schools by the end of the pilot program.

Read full article from source: bridgedetroit.com