The Early Childhood Investment Corporation (ECIC) and the Think Babies Michigan coalition are gathering information from candidates seeking public office in Michigan about their perspectives on early childhood policy. Our goal is education, not endorsement. ECIC does not endorse, oppose, or rate candidates for public office.
We are collecting responses so that families, early childhood service providers, and community members across Michigan can better understand how candidates think about the needs of children from birth through age five and the families and professionals who care for them. Responses from candidates are published as received, without editing or commentary. Candidates have agreed that their responses may be reproduced and attributed to them in ECIC and Think Babies Michigan communications, including newsletters, social media, websites, and materials shared with coalition partners.
The following responses are from Matt Koleszar, Democratic candidate for Michigan Senate District 5.
What do you see as the most pressing early childhood challenge facing the district or communities you seek to represent?
Shortage of childcare providers, prohibitively expensive childcare.
Michigan families in many parts of the state live in areas with far fewer licensed child care slots than there are children who need them, and the shortage is most severe for infants and toddlers. What is your view of this issue, and what approaches would you consider if elected?
I would consider an apprenticeship model for early childhood licensure to expand the workforce pool while reducing debt for those considering early childhood careers as well as loan debt forgiveness and relocation support for people already in the field but hesitant to move given their current wages.
What is your perspective on the cost of child care for Michigan families, and on the tools available to state or federal policymakers to address affordability?
The cost is too high, even for people who can afford it on paper. Families are being forced to assess whether it is more feasible to pay for childcare or to exit the workforce, hindering the state’s economic growth potential. Expanding trishare is one option for making child care more affordable, but we need to explore non means-tested support for all families.
Early childhood educators are among the lowest paid workers in Michigan, and turnover in the field is high. How do you think about compensation, benefits, and working conditions in this profession?
I think creating benefit pools administered by the state for healthcare and retirement could reduce administrative burden on individual child care organizations while providing meaningful economic benefits for people in the field.
Michigan has dedicated funding for many critical services, but nothing specifically focused on the needs of families with young children. Advocates have proposed a dedicated, sustainable state revenue stream for early childhood, separate from the annual general fund appropriations process. What is your perspective on that idea?
I think sincerely conceiving of lifelong learning as a function of the School Aid Fund is a more feasible pathway to ongoing early childhood funding than creating a new fund that can be raided in the same ways as the SAF currently is. This and expanding MDHHS funding for home visiting support feel like the most meaningful appropriations structures for early childhood.
If you were setting priorities within a constrained early childhood budget, what would you prioritize first, and why?
I would prioritize expanding and stabilizing the workforce, without which the system cannot work.
Michigan has made significant strides to promote maternal and infant health, though federal policy changes put many of these programs at risk. How would you work to preserve and expand access to important programs that promote maternal and infant health including Medicaid?
I sponsored one of the bills that enshrined the ACA into Michigan law and would consider codification of other federal programs to ensure they continue regardless of what happens with the federal government. I am prepared to have tough budget conversations next year but will be prioritizing health and education in my discussions.
Think Babies supports more funding for programs that support nurturing relationships and well-being for babies and caregivers — like home visiting, consultation, and intervention services —to help address and prevent stress and trauma before they become a crisis. How familiar are you with these kinds of programs, and would you support increased funding for them if elected?
I support home visiting in Michigan and believe it is one of the most cost-effective interventions in our toolbelt to build a strong foundation for children and families. We will be in for though budget conversations next year given the federal funding cuts described in the previous question, but I will work to preserve existing programming during this time.
The Early On Coalition — which is part of Think Babies — has advocated for increased funding to support families with infants and toddlers who have disabilities and developmental delays to make sure they get the individualized early intervention services they are entitled to. What is your perspective on increasing funding for Early On?
In an ideal world, the Federal Government should be fiscally supporting Early On as part of IDEA. We have good data to support the idea that earlier intervention leads to better outcomes long term, and there is no reason we should not continue to invest.
If elected, how would you gather input from parents, caregivers, and early childhood professionals in your district when making decisions that affect them?
I will continue to hold regular coffee hours and community gatherings for people to make their voices heard in an official forum.
Is there anything else you would like Michigan families, early childhood professionals, and advocates to know about your approach to young children and their families?
I taught for 12 years before becoming a legislator, and I know how difficult it is to undo entrenched poor learning habits. Working with our youngest learners to build good habits and address cognitive, physical, and learning disabilities earlier will inevitably lead to better long-term outcomes.
Are there early childhood issues you believe are being overlooked in the current policy conversation in Michigan?
Yes, I believe early childhood generally lives in the shadow of K-12 to all of our detriment. We have to get serious about protecting early childhood workers the way we do our K-12 teachers.