Michigan not among states awarded Early Learning Challenge grants

LANSING –Despite learning today that Michigan is not one of nine states awarded a federal Race to the Top-Early Learning Challenge grant, the work to build a system of early learning and development to ensure all of Michigan’s children are ready for success when they enter kindergarten will continue.

“Michigan’s application team did a fantastic job of demonstrating Michigan’s long history of commitment on behalf of young children and families and our track record of successful innovation, said Joan Blough, leader of Michigan’s application team, transition director for the new Michigan Office of Great Start and vice president of Great Start System Development and Evaluation for the Early Childhood Investment Corporation. “What we learned in this process is that the work outlined in this grant application must happen if Michigan is going to change the trajectory of these vulnerable young children and their school success.”

According to an Associated Press report, grants totaling $500 million were awarded to California, Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, North Carolina, Ohio, Rhode Island and Washington. Thirty five states, Puerto Rico, and Washington D.C. applied. The Race to the Top - Early Learning Challenge is designed to help states build coordinated systems of early learning and development to ensure many more children from low-income families and otherwise disadvantaged children have access to dramatically improved early learning and development programs. A second round of Early Learning Challenge grants is possible, according to federal officials.

To read the full article posted on the ECIC website, click here.