Early Childhood Advocates to Take Lansing by Storm

Key among this year's messages will be how Governor Jennifer Granholm's proposal to increase funding for early childhood development, if passed by the legislature, will impactMichigan families and benefit the state. Her increased investment of $31.5 million would expand the Great Start Collaboratives to allow all 650, 000 Michigan children under age five to be connected to a Great Start Collaborative, fund important innovation grants to develop evidence-based practices in all early learning environments, and allow an additional 7,000 at-risk children to attend the Great Start Readiness Pre- school Programs. Extensive statistical data and case studies show a return on investment of $7-$17 for every $1 invested by government.

"We are expecting an enthusiastic and record size crowd," ECIC CEO Judy Samelson explained. "We are proud of the hard work occurring at the grassroots level to promote early childhood development. And our local partners are thrilled to have the opportunity to communicate success stories to their elected officials inLansing."

The day will begin with training sessions to help bring rally participants up to speed on policy issues being debated under the dome and prepare them for visits to legislative offices. Following the training, a rally on the Capitol Steps will take place where early childhood champions Consumers Energy, the United Way, and others will be saluted for their hard work and commitment to early childhood issues. Speakers at the rally will include State Superintendent Mike Flanagan and Speaker of the House Andy Dillon. Later on in the day, rally goers will break off into teams and visit their elected officials to brief them on important early childhood issues.

"We'll call Wednesday a success if we meet with representatives from every legislative office," said Samelson. "It's an ambitious objective, but I know our crowd is up for the task. Their passion for early childhood education will drive them to get it done."

The Great Start initiative was launched in 2004 as a movement to create public understanding that learning begins at birth and that investment in early childhood health, development and learning is crucial to the state's economic future. ECIC was created in 2005 to assure that every young child in Michigan has a Great Start and arrives at the kindergarten door healthy and ready to succeed in school, with parents who are committed to educational achievement.

SOURCE Early Childhood Investment Corporation

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