February 03, 2026
LANSING, Mich. – The Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential (MiLEAP) reaffirmed today every family deserves access to safe, quality, affordable child care that meets their needs. In December 2025, the Child Development and Care (CDC) scholarship supported 47,421 children from 28,672 families through partnerships with 6,264 child care providers across Michigan.
The CDC scholarship investment allows working families access to care they can trust knowing their children are safe and learning. Michigan’s workforce is strengthened by putting money back in the pockets of thousands of families so they can work, attend school, or participate in job training knowing their children are cared for in a child care home or center.
“The Child Development and Care scholarship exists to ensure Michigan families can access safe, reliable and affordable child care, while supporting the providers who provide that care,” said Dr. Beverly Walker-Griffea, director of MiLEAP. “Every dollar invested in this program represents a real child, a family and a stronger Michigan economy. We take that responsibility seriously by pairing access and affordability with strong safeguards, transparency and continuous improvement.”
Through the CDC scholarship, eligible families can receive support for licensed or license-exempt child care providers who meet program requirements, resulting in low or no out-of-pocket costs. This support helps children develop the skills they need thrive and puts them on a path to a bright future while fueling the local economy by allowing families to remain engaged in the workforce.
From October 2022 through March 2024, MiLEAP issued approximately $692.5 million in CDC scholarship payments to more than 8,200 child care providers, supporting care for roughly 66,500 children across Michigan.
These investments help families access reliable child care while ensuring providers are reimbursed promptly for the essential care they provide. MilEAP is committed to integrity and accountability in the administration of the CDC scholarship.
MiLEAP also oversees Michigan’s PreK for All, the state’s no-cost, high-quality PreK initiative, which ensures families with four-year-olds have access to early learning that prepares children for kindergarten and beyond. PreK for All saves Michigan families an estimated $14,000 per child per year in child care costs, and as of October 2025, more than 51,000 children are enrolled in the Great Start Readiness Program (GSRP).
“As a parent, I’m grateful for the programs administered by MiLEAP, which helped improve my child’s emotional, social and intellectual skills and ensure she was healthy and ready to learn when she started kindergarten,” said Yamila Taylor, a former PreK for All parent. “My daughter loved her experience in the PreK for All program. Having high-quality PreK available at no cost means parents can go to work each day knowing their child is in a safe environment with trusted, caring adults.”
“As a PreK teacher, I know that helping children nurture relationships and stimulate their early childhood learning experiences helps build a strong foundation for future growth, development and success,” said Manju Alexander, lead teacher at Kentwood Public Schools Early Childhood Center. “I’m proud to be a teacher through the PreK for All program and provide Michigan families access to safe, quality and no-cost PreK so they can attend school, earn a skill certificate or go to work while their children are learning in the care of trusted adults.”
MiLEAP administers the scholarship through layered oversight strategies before, during and after payments are made to ensure these public funds are used appropriately and as intended. Safeguards include eligibility verification, routine audits and reviews, staff monitoring and enforcement actions when necessary.
Preventing fraud and abuse is central to the program’s operations and MiLEAP is committed to partnering with the Office of Inspector General when potential misuse or fraud is identified. MiLEAP has a zero-tolerance policy for fraud or abuse of funds meant to benefit Michigan families.
“Our team works every day to ensure the CDC scholarship is administered efficiently and accurately,” said Emily Laidlaw, MiLEAP deputy director overseeing the Office of Early Education. “Through regular audits, ongoing monitoring, and close coordination with our partners, we are good stewards of public funds while ensuring families receive the support they need and providers are reimbursed consistently. Zero tolerance for fraud or misuse is not just policy- it’s how we best serve Michiganders.”
"As families have to work harder and harder to make ends meet in these uncertain times, finding affordable child care is imperative,” said Monique Stanton, president and CEO of the Michigan League for Public Policy. “CDC scholarships help Michigan families access safe, reliable care for their kids, which means parents can work or advance their education and build stability for their households. Michigan must continue to broaden the reach of its efficient and transparent child care system so that all kids have a space to grow and learn."
Since its creation in Dec. 2023, the department has worked to strengthen the program by enhancing provider communications, expanding support channels, improving system functionality and streamlining billing processes. These efforts have reduced wait times, increased accuracy and made it easier for families and providers to access and understand program benefits.
MiLEAP maintains that the CDC scholarship program functions as intended—supporting children’s development, strengthening families and sustaining Michigan’s child care system.
Additional information about the state’s efforts to support children and families can be found by visiting MiLEAP’s Office of Early Education webpage.
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About MiLEAP:
Established by Governor Whitmer in 2023, MiLEAP’s mission is to improve outcomes from birth 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.
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