The Child Care Licensing Bureau (CCLB) performs state licensing regulatory duties as required by state laws and federal requirements.
Early learning and development program resources for all children, birth to age eight, especially those in highest need.
The MI Tri-Share Child Care Program is an innovative approach to increasing access to high-quality, affordable child care for working families while also helping employers retain talent and remove one major barrier to employment.
Michigan is one of 20 states selected by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to receive the Preschool Development B-5 renewal grant (PDG).
The PreK for All Initiative helps Michigan families save money while preparing the state’s youngest learners for kindergarten.
The Office of Education Partnerships at MiLEAP oversees both the Governor’s Educator Advisory Council and the Michigan PreK-12 Literacy Commission.
The Office of Family Partnerships coordinates and aligns a statewide system of family-school-community partnerships in support of positive developmental, health and academic outcomes, ensuring every learner in Michigan thrives.
Resources for Michigan’s Out-of-School Time programs and providers.
The Office of Higher Education at MiLEAP convened a 15-member task force to examine how basic needs insecurity affects college students across Michigan. Their goal is to identify effective interventions and recommend policy changes that remove financial barriers to education.
The Michigan Legislature tasked MiLEAP’s Office of Higher Education (OHE) with partnering statewide to improve student transfer and credit acceptance. Through its Transfer Success Project, OHE advances student-centered outcomes using evidence-based strategies and meaningful cross-sector collaboration.
The Universal FAFSA Challenge supports districts in adopting a local universal FAFSA policy and implementing FAFSA completion support in their high schools and local communities.
By 2030, 60% of working-age Michiganders will have a certificate or college degree. Michigan will be a talent leader — fueling the future workforce and providing opportunity for all.
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October 31, 2025
Statewide initiative builds on Michigan’s FAFSA completion gains to help every student access financial aid
LANSING, Mich. – The Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential (MiLEAP) announced today that applications are now open for the Universal the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) Challenge, a $10 million grant opportunity to help local school districts and public school academies adopt FAFSA completion as a universal requirement for graduating seniors.
“MiLEAP is pleased to offer this opportunity for schools to ignite the potential of students all across Michigan,” said Dr. Beverly Walker-Griffea, director of MiLEAP. “The Universal FAFSA Challenge builds on the momentum we’ve created together. When every student completes the FAFSA, we open the door to college and career training options that change lives and strengthen communities.”
Supported through Michigan’s bipartisan Fiscal Year 2026 budget, local school districts and public school academies have the opportunity to apply for a share of $10 million in available funding to integrate FAFSA completion into their high school graduation requirements, with a simple opt-out provision for qualifying students. Participating districts will use awarded funds to implement evidence-based FAFSA completion strategies and activities that provide students essential supports throughout the application process.
This investment builds on Michigan’s continued progress in helping students access postsecondary opportunities. A total of 67,365 students from Michigan’s Class of 2025 completed – representing 56.9% of graduates – completed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid FAFSA), a 6-point increase from the Class of 2024.
Among districts that implemented a Universal FAFSA policy during the 2024-25 academic year, completions also increased by more than 15%, with some schools seeing gains of up to 70%. These improvements translate directly into new opportunities for students and families to access life-changing financial aid and scholarship support.
“The Universal FAFSA Challenge is designed to strengthen the work already happening across Michigan’s school districts to help students plan for their futures,” said Sarah Szurpicki, deputy director of MiLEAP’s Office of Higher Education. “Schools play a vital role in showing students what’s possible. By prioritizing FAFSA completion, we’re ensuring every student can make informed choices and gain access to opportunities like the Michigan Achievement Scholarship and the Community College Guarantee.”
The application for the Universal FAFSA Challenge will close Dec. 1, 2025. Funding will be awarded based on the number of 12th-grade students in qualifying districts, with awards announced by Jan. 31, 2026. Previously awarded districts and academies are not eligible to apply.
MiLEAP will host an informational webinar on Wednesday, Nov. 12 at 1 p.m. to share more details about the application process, key deadlines, award timeline, eligibility requirements, and more. Interested districts are encouraged to register for the webinar on Zoom.
For more information on how to apply for the Universal FAFSA Challenge and other resources, visit the MiLEAP Office of Higher Education webpage.
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About MiLEAP:
Established by Governor Whitmer in 2023, MiLEAP’s mission is to improve outcomes from preschool to postsecondary so anyone can ‘make it in Michigan’ with a solid education and a path to a good-paying job. To learn more about MiLEAP, go to Michigan.gov/MiLEAP.Media Contact:
