From the Superintendent’s Office

by Tom Watkins, Michigan Superintendent of Public Instruction

Giving our children a great start is both a moral imperative and an economic necessity. A strong building is built from the foundation up, not from the roof down. Early investment in children’s learning pays off: it reduces costly grade retention, increases reading ability and decreases illiteracy, reduces dropout rates, reduces welfare costs, and reduces prison costs. The vast majority of children’s learning occurs before age five, but the vast majority of public funding is spent on their education beginning at age five.

The Michigan Ready to Succeed Partnership and many organizations, associations, foundations, and funding sources are working in collaboration with state government to promote public awareness of early childhood development and high-quality early childhood programs and services. The “Be their Hero from age Zero” campaign has made an impact on policy makers and the public.

Under the leadership of Governor Granholm and the State Board of Education, important priorities in Michigan are becoming aligned and brought to the forefront of state policy. Governor Granholm’s Project Great Start and the Early Childhood Comprehensive Systems Project will bring together the many activities and programs in state government for young children and families into a system that makes sense (see page 4). The State Board’s Task Force on Ensuring Early Childhood Literacy has outlined numerous specific actions that will help prepare children for successful school and life experiences.

The Family Independence Agency (FIA), under the leadership of Director Marianne Udow, has created a new Bureau of Children’s Services to assure that vulnerable children start life with as many opportunities as possible to become contributing, competent, and productive citizens. FIA’s Family Resource Centers are helping families find critical services like health care and housing. Plus, early surveys suggest that the centers are doing more: they are improving family involvement in the schools in which they operate.

In collaboration with the FIA, Head Start, intermediate school districts, and regional education service agencies, this year MDE will convene a large stakeholder group to update and revise our 1980s and early 1990s standards to reflect new information and ideas about how best to serve our youngest citizens (see page 20).

The Michigan Department of Education (MDE) manages many of the state and federally funded high quality programs that make a difference in children’s lives. MDE staff members work collaboratively with other state departments and associations and organizations to plan and implement policies and programs. The MDE takes on leadership roles in both state and national organizations to promote the highest quality for all of our young children.

I hope that you will use this expanded issue of Leading Change to open a dialogue about the importance of early childhood education within your learning community. Copy and share the articles, read the supplemental Web-linked articles and resources, distribute copies, and create conversations that will lead to improved opportunities for ALL of Michigan’s children.

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