MiLEAP Finalizes Revisions to Child Care Licensing Rules

Rules Changes Will Support Innovation and Help Expand Access to Affordable Child Care for Michigan Families

LANSING, Mich. – The Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential (MiLEAP) has finalized revisions to the Licensing Rules for Child Care Centers. The rules set a minimum standard for what child care programs must do to keep children safe, happy, healthy and learning as MiLEAP and its partners work to expand access to high-quality and affordable child care for Michigan families. 

“MiLEAP is dedicated to expanding child care options that meet the diverse needs of families across the state while providing safe, supportive environments for children to grow and learn,” said Dr. Beverly Walker-Griffea, director of MiLEAP. “The rule revisions uphold essential quality and safety standards and improve access to care, which is critical for Michigan children, families, and our economy as a whole. We’re grateful to our partners who contributed their insights throughout this process.” 

“These revisions simplify licensing requirements and help reduce barriers for early childhood educators, allowing them to focus more on the care and education of Michigan’s children,” said Emily Laidlaw, deputy director of Early Education at MiLEAP. “We appreciate the thousands of individuals who shared their input, and we look forward to continuing our collaboration with families, providers, and community partners to strengthen child care access across the state.”  The revisions to the Licensing Rules for Child Care Centers are the result of extensive feedback gathered through 63 listening sessions with nearly 600 early educators, families, community members, and state partners, along with survey input from nearly 1,300 respondents.  

The finalized rule changes will:

Protect Health and Safety: Key updates include revised space requirements for infants and toddlers, streamlined hygiene standards, and the removal of redundant rules. The changes also introduce a mandatory food allergy management plan, outdoor safety requirements for nature-based programs, and requirements for the Clean Drinking Water Access Act known as "Filter First" to ensure safe drinking water. Additionally, discipline guidelines have been updated to clarify appropriate practices and prohibit harmful punishment. These revisions aim to align with national best practices and support child care providers in creating safe, nurturing spaces for children.

Support Child Care Workforce: The changes recognize and elevate the early childhood workforce by renaming “child care staff member” to “teacher,” reflecting the professionalism of the role. New definitions, such as Independent Service Provider and Therapeutic Professional, clarify who must complete health and safety training and background checks. Updated qualification standards emphasize the skills and knowledge required for leadership roles, supporting continuous improvement through the Great Start to Quality program. The updates also provide greater administrative flexibility, allowing leaders to manage multiple sites and enabling school principals to qualify as program administrators, helping address the ongoing workforce challenges across the state.

Improve Efficiencies and Flexibilities: The key changes include extending the allowable transportation time for children under school age from one hour to 1.5 hours to better reflect real-world conditions in various care settings. Rules for school-age child care centers have been reorganized into a centralized section to make them easier to navigate. Additionally, the rule set has been streamlined, removing redundant or overlapping regulations, helping reduce barriers for providers while maintaining essential quality and safety standards.

Support Innovation: The changes broaden access to high-quality, innovative child care options by establishing minimum standards for small capacity centers and outdoor nature-based programs. Developed with input from providers and stakeholders, these updates are designed to support flexible, creative approaches to early learning while maintaining safe and developmentally appropriate environments for children. 

The updated rules and additional information can be found on MiLEAP’s Child Care Licensing webpage.

For families seeking child care options, visit the Great Start to Quality website. For families with children turning 4 before Dec. 1, 2025, enrollment is now open for FREE high-quality PreK for the 2025-26 school year. Visit MIPreKforAll.org to find programs near you that meet your family’s unique needs.