Local parents, children to join thousands at Capitol to talk with lawmakers about early childhood programs

LANSING — More than 4,000 parents, children and advocates are expected at the Capitol Thursday, May 19, to thank state lawmakers for their ongoing support of early childhood programs and to remind them how important those investments are to local communities.

Among them will be the Great Start Wayne County Parent Coalition, Southwest Solutions, The United Way Early Learning Hubs and Wayne County Head Start.

“This year, the Great Start’s have focused on bringing as many early childhood supporters to the capital to meet with their legislators, says Ramana Roberson, parent liaison for the Great Start Collaborative in Wayne County. “It’s a critical time for young children in our state and they need to know that many parents want their voices heard on behalf of their kids.”

The 2011 gathering is expected to be the largest Star Power since the event began in 2007. More than 3,500 people attended the 2010 event, which is annually one of the largest citizen gatherings on the Capitol lawn.

“Star Power is always a wonderful chance for lawmakers to hear one-on-one from their constituents about the need for us to continue making school readiness a primary focus, not a secondary one,” said Judy Y. Samelson, CEO of the Early Childhood Investment Corp. (ECIC), which sponsors the event with private dollars.

“But it’s particularly important this year because of all the new lawmakers in Lansing. They need to hear this message about how important these investments in young children are to not only parents but to the state’s economic revival.”

Last month, Gov. Rick Snyder announced he will sign an executive order creating an Office of Great Start – Early Childhood within state government, which will coordinate early childhood programs and resources that currently are scattered across multiple state departments. Snyder called it the “first plank” in his drive to reform Michigan’s entire educational system.

“This new office will refocus the state’s early childhood investment, policy and administrative structures by adopting a single set of early childhood outcomes,” said Snyder, who also noted the important role the Early Childhood Investment Corp. will have in making the Office a reality.

The move is long-awaited help for Michigan parents who must contend with different state bureaucracies in getting help for their children, and it is long-awaited news for early childhood backers who believe that a more coordinated, integrated, child-centered approach is the only way to change school and life readiness for young children.

While the state is focusing on bringing together programs to better serve children, Samelson said the ECIC will continue working to improve quality, accountability and customer input in those programs, while also increasing private investment in early childhood.

Many Star Power participants are members of Michigan’s 54 Great Start Collaboratives and 70 Great Start Parent Coalitions, which help communities in all corners of the state develop, implement, evaluate and connect to local, comprehensive early childhood services. Star Power is free and open to everyone.

The day-long event begins with a 10 a.m. parade from Cooley Law Stadium, home of the Lansing Lugnuts, to the Capitol, followed by a short program on the Capitol steps. From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. participants will meet with their lawmakers on the lawn and in legislative offices. Throughout the day, there will be educational displays, information, music and entertainment on the lawn.

Investments in early childhood programs like prenatal care, preschool, quality child care and more are viewed by many researchers and economists – including University of Chicago Professor James Heckman, a Nobel Prize winner in economics - as a key strategy in rebuilding the American economy.

A 2009 study by the Wilder Foundation estimated Michigan’s cost savings and revenues due to past investments in school readiness at roughly $1.15 billion per year. The savings come from fewer people in the welfare, criminal justice and unemployment systems; the revenues come from better incomes and increased taxes.

According to a 2009 survey of Michigan kindergarten teachers, roughly a third of incoming kindergarteners aren’t able to keep up because of social, emotional, health or cognitive problems.

“The research on the educational and economic value of investments in early childhood is overwhelmingly clear,” said Samelson.

For more information about attending or volunteering for Star Power, visit www.greatstartforkids.org/star-power. For more information about the Great Start Collaborative Wayne County, visit www.greatstartwayne.org.

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