Governor Snyder Announces
Office of Great Start -- Early Childhood "We know too much about the first five years of life to continue to invest as though learning begins at the kindergarten door rather than at birth," Governor Rick Snyder said today as he proposed a number of sweeping education reforms.
 In a speech in Detroit this morning, the Governor announced his plans to create the Michigan Office of Great Start -- Early Childhood, which would be housed at the Department of Education and would coordinate all 84 separate early childhood funding streams currently managed by various state departments.
Governor Snyder, a Republican who took office January 1, spoke of the need to look at child development holistically, including health and early learning. Investing in a coherent early childhood system "will help assure Michigan has a vibrant economy, a ready work force, a pool of people who demonstrate consistently high educational attainment, and a reputation as one of the best states in the country to raise a child," Snyder wrote in a letter to the Legislature, that coincided with today's speech.
The Governor identified four early childhood outcomes against which all public investments will be assessed:
- Children born healthy
- Children healthy, thriving, and developmentally on track from birth to third grade
- Children developmentally ready to succeed in school at the time of school entry
- Children prepared to succeed in fourth grade and beyond by reading proficiently at the end of third grade
Our community's investments in early childhood are aligned closely with much of what the Governor said this morning. First Steps and our many partners are developing a coordinated, integrated system of early childhood services that supports all families in Kent County. Our vision is that every young child will enter kindergarten ready to succeed in school and in life.
"The foundation for long-term success is developed in the earliest years of life. That's when children learn how to think, solve problems, cope with stress, communicate and be creative," said Rebekah Fennell, First Steps Executive Director. "We applaud Governor Snyder's commitment to early childhood and are encouraged by his holistic approach that focuses not only on a child's cognitive development but also on his or her physical, social and emotional development."
"We appreciate the Governor's emphasis on aligned resources, quality and accountability, all of which are core elements of the collaborative work we are doing in Kent County," explained Lynne Ferrell, Chair of the Great Start Collaborative. "Any effort designed to develop a highly skilled work force must begin with investments in the health, early education and general well being of our youngest children." Please click on the link to read Governor Snyder's full letter to the legislature.
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