Early Learners and Care

Current Office of Great Start Grant Opportunities

Early Childhood Support Networks (ECSN)

The Michigan Department of Education (MDE) is pleased to announce the availability of funds for a grant to support four entities to develop and facilitate access to a better coordinated and easier to navigate early childhood system for providers and families that addresses the needs of the whole child. The overarching goal is to provide statewide coverage utilizing four regions. MDE will award at least four grants to an agency, organization, or institution with expertise in system building, technical assistance and grant management. The deadline to apply for this grant is February 22, 2019.

ECSN Grant Application Materials:

• ECSN Grant application, materials and instructions (full version with attachments/forms) Updated 2/14/19 pages 16
• ECSN Overview of State Systems and Responsibilities
• ECSN Region Map
• ECSN Application Checklist for Grant Applicants rev. 2/14/19 for contact information and clarification of page counts
• ECSN Volunteer Grant Reviewer Application rev. 1/28/19
• ECSN Application Scoring Rubric

ECSN Grant Application Individual Attachment/Forms Files:

• ECSN Grant Notice of Intent to Apply 
• ECSN Grant Application Cover
• ECSN Grant Assurances and Certifications
• ECSN Intent to Collaborate rev. 1/29/19
• ECSN Fillable Budget Form rev. 2/19/19

Great Start to Quality (GSQ)

The Michigan Department of Education (MDE) is pleased to announce the availability of funds for a grant to support the day to day oversight and implementation of the state’s quality rating improvement system, GSQ. The grant will begin on July 1, 2019 (if necessary for a transition period) leading into full FY19 implementation. The deadline to apply for this grant is February 22, 2019.

Application Materials:

• GSQ Grant application, materials and instructions (full version with attachments/forms) Updated 2/5/19 for pages 15 and 27
• GSQ Overview of State Systems and Responsibilities
• GSQ Application Checklist for Grant Applicants rev. 2/5/19 for contact information
• GSQ Quality Rating Process
• Michigan ECIDs
• GSQ Volunteer Grant Reviewer Application rev. 1/28/19
• GSQ Region Map
• GSQ Application Scoring Rubric

GSQ Grant Application Individual Attachment/Forms Files:

• GSQ Grant Notice of Intent to Apply 
• GSQ Grant Application Cover
• GSQ Grant Assurances and Certifications
• GSQ Grant Fillable Budget Form

Additional Information and Documents: 

• ECSN and GSQ announcement memo from December 18, 2018
• ECSN Grant memo from January 10, 2019
• GSQ Grant memo from January 10, 2019
• Technical Assistance Webinar Slides from January 15, 2019 webinar
• Frequently Asked Questions for ECSN and GSQ Grants Added 1/22/19

 

About The Office of Great Start

The Office of Great Start has been charged with ensuring that all children birth to age eight, especially those in highest need, have access to high-quality early learning and development programs and enter kindergarten prepared for success. Former Governor Rick Snyder outlined a single set of early childhood outcomes against which all public investments will be assessed:

• Children born healthy;
• Children healthy, thriving, and developmentally on track from birth to third grade;
• Children developmentally ready to succeed in school at the time of school entry; and
• Children prepared to succeed in fourth grade and beyond by reading proficiently by the end of third grade.

In 2013, the Office of Great Start engaged stakeholders across the state in development of Great Start, Great Investment, Great Future: The Plan for Early Learning and Development in Michigan. This comprehensive plan contains six recommendations and numerous priority action items for advancing early learning and development.

Great Start, Great Investment, Great Future: The Plan for Early Learning and Development in Michigan

Great Start, Great Investment, Great Future Report (PDF)
Great Start, Great Investment, Great Future Appendices (PDF)
Early Childhood Program Inventory 2013 (PDF)
Early Childhood Program Inventory 2015 (PDF) 

Report: Building a Better Child Care System

In late 2015 and early 2016, the Office of Great Start partnered with Public Sector Consultants to gather input on the state of child care in Michigan. The final report Building a Better Child Care System: What Michigan Can Do to Help More Parents and Children Access Quality Care, is now available and contains results and recommendations for improving access to quality child care.

 

 

Core Knowledge and Core Competencies for Early Care and Education
Michigan’s newly revised Core Knowledge and Core Competencies (CKCC) define what adults who work with young children need to know, understand, and be able to do in order to ensure that children have the best possible environments, experiences, and relationships in which to grow and learn.  The State Board of Education approved the Michigan Core Knowledge and Core Competencies for the Early Care and Education Workforce at their November 2014 meeting.  The related documents are below:

• Michigan Core Knowledge and Core Competencies for the Early Care and Education Workforce
• Alignment for Early Educator Preparation

Revised Standards 
The State Board of Education (SBE) approved revisions to the following standards documents on March 12, 2013. The Early Childhood Standards of Quality for Infant and Toddler Programs (ECSQ-IT), Early Childhood Standards of Quality for Prekindergarten(ECSQ-PK), and the Michigan Out-of-School Time (MOST) Standards of Quality listed here are the most up-to-date versions available.  The SBE also adopted the Statement and Guidance on Developing a Policy for Prevention of Suspension and/or Expulsion of Children Birth through Age 8 in Early Education and Care Programs.

Parent Resources for the Early Years
Great Start Readiness Program Website
If you are a parent interested in learning more, see the Great Start Readiness Program brochure or use this map to find a program in your area.

Great Start to Quality helps parents find the best child care and preschool settings for their children and helps providers and educators improve the care they give to children.

Transition to Kindergarten Parent Guides address many of the questions that parents have as they look forward to their child's Kindergarten years.

Resources

OGS Community Learning Webinars

The Office of Great Start offered six learning community webinars. Each webinar was focused on a topic of interest to providers and other stakeholders in the early childhood community. Use the links below to view the presentation resources.

• Shared Infrastructure in Early Childhood Programs: Common Applications and Beyond Presentation (PDF)
• Inclusive Practices in Early Childhood and Early Childhood Special Education Presentation (PDF)
• Parent Engagement Presentation (PDF)
• Transportation and Early Childhood Programs Presentation (PDF)
• Blending and Braiding Funding to Provide Early Childhood Programs Presentation (PDF)
• Social Emotional Health and Early Childhood Programs Presentation (PDF)

 

Michigan's Preschool Development Grant Birth through Five Application (submitted November 2, 2018)

21st Century Community Learning Centers

Child Development and Care

Early Childhood Special Education

Early On© Michigan

Great Start Readiness Program

Michigan Interagency Coordinating Council

Race to the Top - Early Learning Challenge