Michigan Department of Education Receives Grant to Develop Foundation of Early Childhood Data System
Contact: Martin Ackley, Director of Public and Governmental Affairs (517) 241-4395
Agency: Education
August 6, 2013
LANSING - The Michigan Department of Education's Office of Great Start has begun a project to develop foundational elements of a coordinated early childhood data system to support improved outcomes for children.
The project is funded by a $400,000 grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation of Battle Creek, Michigan.
"We need to be able to follow and measure the successes, and opportunities, of quality early childhood learning," State Superintendent Mike Flanagan said. "This generous grant from the Kellogg Foundation will help get us to the starting line."
The overall objective is the development of a coordinated and shared early childhood data system allowing for real time and longitudinal status of Michigan's children's health and development and association participation in early childhood programs and services.
Funding will support three major activities including the development of a multi-sector stakeholder governance structure; a strategic plan with outcomes over the next five years; and the completion of a financial feasibility study to identify costs construct and maintain this system.
The system will support greater identification of children and communities with high needs and other populations with unique needs to enable real time data exchange among programs, and services and existing data systems with the aim of closing service gaps; support a longitudinal capacity to view a child's health and development from his/her entry into a publicly-funded early childhood service or program; and maintain compliance with all state and federal regulations related to security, privacy, and confidentiality.
