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 the Governor’s Educator Advisory Council and the Every Child Reads Champions Council.
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.
You're their most important teacher. Help children develop strong literacy skills with Read With MI.
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.
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.
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.
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November 10, 2026
LANSING, Mich. – Michigan’s FAFSA completion rate reached 61.3% for the class of 2026, the highest since the state began monitoring completion. School districts participating in the Universal FAFSA Challenge had a completion rate of 71.3%, 11.2 percentage points higher than the 60.1% rate among nonparticipating districts.
A new report from MiLEAP’s Office of Higher Education (OHE) examines FAFSA completion trends following the first round of Universal FAFSA Challenge awards, announced by MiLEAP in February 2025. Through the $10 million investment, 75 school districts and public school academies received funding to adopt FAFSA completion as a high school graduation requirement, with a simple opt-out provision for qualifying students.
The funding supports districts in putting strategies in place to increase FAFSA completion, such as providing individualized assistance to students and families, designating staff to lead FAFSA efforts and using completion data to identify students who need additional support.
“Every student deserves the opportunity to pursue an education or career pathway that allows them to reach their full potential,” said Dr. Beverly Walker-Griffea, executive director of MiLEAP. “Michigan’s record FAFSA completion rate reflects meaningful progress in ensuring more students can access the financial resources they need to pursue those opportunities.”
Participating districts increased their FAFSA completion rates by 6.7 percentage points during the 2025-26 academic year, more than twice the 3-percentage-point increase among nonparticipating districts.
The initiative also showed strong results among schools serving higher proportions of low-income students and students of color. Participating schools where at least 75% of students were classified as low-income had completion rates 18.6 percentage points higher than comparable nonparticipating schools. The difference was 16.5 percentage points among schools where at least 75% of students were students of color.
The Universal FAFSA Challenge launched during the 2024-25 school year, with participating districts beginning implementation of their FAFSA completion requirements in 2025-26. This report evaluates the initiative’s first year of implementation.
“Making the FAFSA part of the high school experience helps ensure students have the information and support they need to make informed decisions about what comes next,” said Sarah Szurpicki, deputy director of MiLEAP’s Office of Higher Education. “For students and families navigating the cost of education or career training, understanding the financial aid available to them can make a powerful difference in the paths they consider and pursue.”
The full Universal FAFSA Challenge Data Report 2025-2026 is now available on the MiLEAP website.
Schools Can Still Apply for the Third Round of Universal FAFSA Challenge
Applications are open for the third round of the $10 million Universal FAFSA Challenge. Eligible school districts and public school academies can apply for funding to adopt FAFSA completion as a high school graduation requirement and help more graduating seniors access financial aid.
Applications are due Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2026. Districts and academies that received funding in the previous rounds are not eligible to apply again.
MiLEAP will host informational webinars for schools interested in applying:
For eligibility requirements, application details and more information about the Universal FAFSA Challenge, visit the Universal FAFSA Challenge webpage.
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About MiLEAP:
Established by Gov. Whitmer in 2023, MiLEAP ensures every Michigander has a path to prosperity from birth to earning a postsecondary credential that leads to high-wage careers. To learn more about MiLEAP, go to Michigan.gov/MiLEAP.
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