Early Childhood Working Group

Purpose

Ensure children have access to quality childcare and preschool that prepares them to enter kindergarten at grade level to make it much more likely they are proficient in reading by third grade.

2024 Objectives

Help employers implement strategies that address the childcare needs of their employees.
Remove constraints that impact childcare providers ability to operate or expand.
Secure funding to support the expansion of Reach Out & Read Michigan.
Implement a statewide Kindergarten Readiness Assessment.

Purpose

Ensure children have access to quality childcare and preschool that prepares them to enter kindergarten at grade level to make it much more likely they are proficient in reading by third grade.

2024 Objectives

Help employers implement strategies that address the childcare needs of their employees.
Remove constraints that impact childcare providers ability to operate or expand.
Secure funding to support the expansion of Reach Out & Read Michigan.
Implement a statewide Kindergarten Readiness Assessment.

Leadership

President

softArchitecture

President & CEO

Pridgeon and Clay, Inc.

Chairman & Founder

Whitecaps Professional Baseball, Inc.

Director of Education Innovation

TalentFirst

Regional President

PNC Financial

Membership

Melissa Boman
Grand Rapids Community College

Paula Brown
Great Start Collaborative of Kent County

Ashanti Bryant
W.K. Kellogg Foundation

Kristyn Buhl-Lepisto
KC Ready4s

Dick Bulkowski
Steepletown

Karen Clark
Newaygo County RESA Great Start Collaborative

Angie DeLost
Ready for School

Sarah Dixon
Fremont Area Community Foundation

Chana Edmond-Verley
Vibrant Futures

Jim Fisher
Second Act LLC

Maureen Hale
Kent County Great Start Collaborative

Jennifer Hammond
Muskegon Public Schools

Jennifer Headley-Nordman
First Steps Kent

Bryana Hopkins
Frey Foundation

Sara Jeruzal
West Shore ESD Great Start Collaborative

Stuart Jones
Muskegon Area ISD

Ashley Karsten
Kent ISD

Allison Keessen
Muskegon County Great Start Collaborative

Tami Mannes
Ottawa Area ISD

Cari O’Connor
Montcalm ISD

Alexis Reame
PNC Bank

Leslee Rohs
W.K. Kellogg Foundation

Lynne Russell
Mason County United Way

Kathy Sayles
United Way of the Lakeshore

Monica Schuyler
Pennies from Heaven Foundation

Sarah See
Community Action Allegan

Lindsay Sichta
Allegan Area ESA

Jenna Smalligan
Fremont Area Community Foundation

Tricia Smith-Bennet
Mecosta-Osceola Great Start Collaborative

Heather Walczewski
Grand Rapids YMCA

Holly Windram
Hope Network’s Michigan Education Corps

Related Publications

October 2023

Balancing the Scales

This report provides a comprehensive overview of early care and education (ECE) compensation in Michigan and proposes a unifying wage scale that places ECE wages on par with comparable roles requiring similar skills and qualifications. The wage scale provides guidance on what ECE professionals should be paid based on their geography, role, qualifications, and years of experience — regardless of setting — and provides guidance for wage and scaling increases over time.