Michigan's Children is excited to announce a new partnership with the national Birth to Five Policy Alliance and several Michigan organizations formed to take advantage of a unique opportunity to change the state's economic course by prioritizing investments in early childhood when the foundation is set for a lifetime of learning.

Building on our firm belief -- backed by sound scientific and economic research -- that early childhood is the key to growing an educated and skilled workforce of tomorrow, we will be fighting to protect and strengthen investments in programs serving young children and educating candidates for statewide office and the Legislature about the value of such investments.

We have big plans for this campaign and can't wait to share them all with you! We know you will be as excited as we are to join with some of Michigan's best known celebrities and respected organizations to put Michigan back on the path to economic prosperity.

We hope you will join us in this crucial endeavor. Sign up now to become part of the Early Childhood Action Network and watch our website as we roll out this campaign.

Read more about the Early Childhood Action Alliance here.

The Early Childhood Investment Corporation will release on Monday, Jan. 25 a new study examining the economic impact of Michigan's school readiness efforts.

Watch a webcast of a media event releasing the study and link to the report here.

The Center for Michigan, a "think-and-do tank" formed in 2006, last week published a two-part special report on the state's early childhood efforts and the funding perils they face.

Read the reports here.