Updates About People

The Michigan Senate Appropriations MiLEAP Subcommittee has proposed a $736.2 million budget for the Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement and Potential, including a $63 million increase to sustain child care services in light of declining federal support. The adjustment aims to maintain access to early childhood programs that have relied heavily on federal funding. Senator Rosemary Bayer (D-West Bloomfield) emphasized that child care is essential to Michigan’s economy and noted that the Senate’s proposal reflects a strategic response to federal funding uncertainty.

In addition to backfilling lost federal dollars, the proposal includes $23 million to boost payments to child care providers—especially those caring for infants and toddlers—as well as $40 million to support advance payments to providers in line with federal regulations. The budget also allocates $16 million for student service grants and calls for the creation of a Dual Enrollment Task Force to strengthen access to higher education.

The Michigan Supreme Court has ruled that automatically sentencing 19- and 20-year-olds to life without parole is unconstitutional under the state’s ban on cruel and unusual punishment. In a 5-2 decision, the court said these young adults must instead receive individualized sentencing, allowing judges to weigh circumstances before issuing such severe penalties.

The decision applies retroactively, meaning it could impact past cases that are still eligible for court review. While life without parole remains a sentencing option for serious crimes like first-degree murder, courts must now consider factors such as age and personal history before deciding. Chief Justice Elizabeth Clement and Justice Brian Zahra dissented from the majority opinion.

In 2024, Michigan’s Great Start Readiness Program (GSRP) enrolled over 45,000 four-year-olds in free pre-kindergarten, a 10% increase from 2023. This program received funding via a $655 million state budget allocation.

The program, which aims to provide universal pre-K access for 75% of Michigan’s four-year-olds, currently serves 38% of the state’s nearly 117,000 children in that age group. The funding can serve up to 54,000 students and still has 11,000 unfilled spots available to students.

The GSRP emphasizes the importance of early education for early development, emotional intelligence, and long-term academic and career success. MiLEAP Director Beverly Walker-Griffea also highlighted the program’s impact, saving families an estimated $10,000 annually in childcare costs while retaining $450 million in the state’s economy.