Washington, D.C. — State senators in Michigan this week introduced a package of five bills to improve the state’s child care program to better address the needs of families and children served. Winnie Stachelberg, Executive Vice President for External Affairs at the Center for American Progress, issued the following statement:
In Michigan, annual costs at a child care center average more than $16,000 for a family with an infant and a 4-year-old. Access to affordable, high-quality child care is crucial for children, families, and the economy because it supports working parents and ensures that children enter kindergarten ready to learn.
The proposed legislation, introduced by state Sens. Hoon-Yung Hopgood (D) and Jim Ananich (D), would work to make child care more affordable and accessible by increasing eligibility for the state’s child care assistance program to reach more families and allow parents to use the program while they complete degree programs. The bills would also extend the Great Start Readiness Program, the state’s preschool program, to serve 3-year-olds.
We applaud the efforts of these legislators to increase access to and affordability of child care in Michigan. State lawmakers are uniquely positioned to make a direct impact in the lives of families in their respective states, and legislators across the country should take note of these efforts in Michigan as they look for ways to improve child care in their own states.
For more information on this topic or to speak with an expert, contact Allison Preiss at [email protected] or 202.478.6331.