In a Joint Appropriations Committee meeting on February 11th, Governor Whitmer kicked off the Fiscal Year 2027 (FY27) budget season with the release of her Executive Budget proposal. Her proposal for FY27, which runs from October 1, 2026, through September 30, 2027, highlights improvements to literacy, saving Michiganders money, protecting Medicaid, and fixing roads. But what exactly did Governor Whitmer include in her final Executive Budget for Michigan’s young children and families?
The Governor continues her meaningful investments toward PreK for All, recommending a $138.1 million increase for the Great Start Readiness Program (GSRP). These additional funds support a 6% increase to the per-pupil rate, with funding continuing to support transportation as well as startup and expansion grants. Startup and expansion grants are particularly important for community-based organizations providing GSRP who are essential to Michigan’s mixed delivery early care and education system.
To support early literacy for all children, the Executive Budget recommends a $1.5 million increase to Early On, Michigan’s early intervention program for families with infants and toddlers with developmental delays and disabilities. Early On is an important piece of the literacy puzzle, because early language skills are foundational to literacy development, and 60% of children who receive Early On services are eligible due to a communication delay. With Michigan’s focus on literacy, this investment is an important first step.
In an effort to support local early childhood infrastructure, the Executive Budget recommends a new $30 million investment to establish regional “Early Learning Partnerships”, which would provide:
- Central access points to early childhood services
- Family and community outreach to build awareness, trust, and referral networks
- Support for early identification of developmental delays, and
- Real-time insights to improve services and systems
Finally, looking toward maternal and child health, the Executive Budget recommends continued funding of $20 million for Rx Kids, Michigan’s innovative cash prescription program aimed at cutting child poverty in specifically funded communities. Rx Kids has a demonstrated positive impact, as it improves family economic stability, mental health, and well-being, along with the health of moms and babies.
While all these recommendations are much needed and appreciated, some programs in great need of additional supports did not see increases in this proposal. Notably, Michigan’s Child Development and Care Scholarship program, which offsets the cost of child care for lower income working families, is recommended to receive flat funding (no increase). And no funds are allocated to support infant-toddler child care contracts, though infant care continues to be challenging for families to secure, nor any funding to enhance compensation for the child care workforce. As we know, the foundation of early literacy starts at the very beginning – right from birth. When children build these skills early, they start school stronger, they are more likely to finish high school, and they enter the workforce ready to succeed.
No investment is stronger with a more proven return than early childhood. High-quality early childhood programs pay lifelong dividends – working families have more stability, children are more likely to thrive, and Michigan’s economy will be more productive.
Find out how all our early childhood priorities fared in the Executive Recommendation and follow along throughout this budget season using ECIC’s FY27 Budget Tracker.
And remember, your voice is needed this budget season. With revenue projections down, the Michigan Legislature will have some tough decisions ahead. Make sure your state lawmakers understand the importance keeping children and families at the center this budget reason by reaching out to your state representative and your state senator.