Home-Based Childcare Centers in Michigan Join New Pre-K Pilot Program
In a unique blend of traditional schooling and home-based childcare, Lori Leggert is redefining early education for young children in Michigan. At The Sky’s the Limit Family Childcare, where children recite the Pledge of Allegiance and are surrounded by books, the environment also includes hens and roosters, offering a holistic approach to learning.
Leggert’s childcare center is part of Michigan’s no-cost pre-K pilot program, which is testing the integration of pre-K education within home-based settings. This initiative allows for financial savings for parents, with one parent estimating a $2,600 saving over spring and summer.
Previously, Michigan’s ‘Pre-K for all’ initiative excluded home-based providers. This pilot aims to change that, supporting 75 to 80 children aged 3 or 4, as per the Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential.
The program, funded by a federal grant of $1.5 million, offers resources such as coaching and curriculum materials. It runs through spring and summer, with potential continuation into the school year, according to MiLEAP.
Advocates see home-based providers as an underutilized resource in early childhood education. According to a report, there were 3,344 such sites in Michigan as of Fiscal Year 2024.
Deb Dupras, executive director of Community Coordinated Child Care Association of the Upper Peninsula, emphasizes the importance of including home providers in pre-K expansion. The goal is to have home setting students perform as well as those in traditional settings.
Providing families with diverse pre-K options is crucial, says Joan Blough of the Early Childhood Investment Corporation, noting the personalized attention available in smaller, home-based settings.
Michigan’s Great Start Readiness Program offers free pre-K to all 4-year-olds, with nearly 55,000 students enrolled. Previously income-restricted, the program now welcomes all families, aligning with Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s inclusive pre-K strategy.
The state also supports initiatives to boost preschool teacher numbers through the MiEarly Apprentice program, enabling paraprofessionals to earn degrees and certifications.
Leggert, who holds a child development associate credential, believes in the value of hands-on experience, stating, “I think sometimes hands-on and experience outweighs a degree.”
In Fowlerville, Taylor Provost, a parent, appreciates the savings and quality care at Leggert’s program, emphasizing the comfort of familiar settings over free alternatives.
Experts like Katie Sloan of Oakland University advocate for the inclusion of home-based providers, citing benefits such as lower child-to-teacher ratios. The state’s policy changes are designed to expand access, allowing more students per teacher and extending operational days.
At Leggert’s center, children enjoy a flexible learning environment that includes play and rest, with plans to enhance outdoor activities using pilot program funds.
Leggert values the relationships formed with families and the educational impact on children, adding, “We are doing exactly what the school systems are. We’re teaching the young kids…They’re getting their education 0 to 5, and I’m excited to be part of that.”
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This article was originally published by Bridge Michigan and shared in collaboration with The Associated Press.
