The Michigan Early Childhood Budget Tracker for Fiscal Year 2027 was last updated February 12, 2026.
Understanding the Budget Tracker:
Each column represents an independent proposal put forth by the body indicated on the heading. After the Governor, Senate, and House each release their own proposals (columns A-C), the Senate and House work together to iron out the differences (column D).
- Executive Recommendation: the Governor’s budget proposal
- Senate: the Senate’s budget proposal
- House: the House of Representatives’ budget proposal
- Passed by the Legislature: the final proposal put forth by the Senate and House after their negotiations – this version will be sent to the Governor’s desk for signature (where she can line-item veto)
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Child Care
Executive Recommendation: Total of $7.2 million for the Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation Program, the National Guard child care assistance fund, and the TriShare Child Care Program. The CDC Scholarship program remains flat funded at $577.3 million, which is inclusive of state and federal funds. Senate Proposal House Proposal Passed by the Legislature
No increase to CDC scholarship reimbursement rates for child care providers. Providers continue to be paid based on enrollment rather than attendance. The CDC scholarship program remains flat-funded at $577.3 million, which is inclusive of state and federal funds.
Maintains $1.5 million for Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation Program.
Maintains $2.3 million in funding for Michigan National Guard child care assistance program for children of National Guard members.
Maintains $3.4 million for the TriShare Child Care Program.
Early Learning Partnerships
Executive Recommendation: Total of $30 million for Early Learning Partnerships, which encompasses providing developmental screenings, participation in coordinated statewide enrollment, improving access to books and literacy materials, providing statewide leadership, improving family engagement and child development, and providing technical assistance. Senate Proposal House Proposal Passed by the Legislature
A new $30 million investment for 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 early identification of developmental delays; and provide real-time insights to improve services and systems. The $30 million total includes:
- $16.9 million for Partnerships' staffing costs and to improve family engagement and child development, provide universal developmental screening and follow up supports, and participate in a coordinated, statewide enrollment system
- $3.9 million for family support services, including home visiting
- $4 million to improve access to books and early literacy materials for children birth to age five
- $4 million to raise awareness of available early learning services, including through implementation of a coordinated statewide enrollment system
- $1.2 million to provide statewide leadership, technical assistance, and central access
GSRP
Executive Recommendation: Total of $1 billion for the Great Start Readiness Program (GSRP), transportation costs, classroom start up and expansion grants, and universal free breakfast for PreK-12 students in school-based settings. Senate Proposal House Proposal Passed by the Legislature
$764.7 million gross to provide universal PreK through the Great Start Readiness Program (GSRP) for all four-year-olds serving an estimated $68,000 children, and includes a 6% increase to per pupil rates:
- Increases per child allocation to $11,290
- Increases extended GSRP option to $13,548
- Increases part-day options to $5,645
- Increases extended blended programs to $6,774
Maintains requirement for ISDs to contract at least 30 percent of their allocation to community-based providers.
Maintains $28 million for transportation costs, which includes $10 million from the GSRP reserve fund. Maintains language requiring MiLEAP to develop parameters to provide reimbursement for parent or guardian provided transportation.
Maintains $25 million to continue start up and expansion grants to open 1,000 additional classrooms.
Maintains $200 million in funding for universal free breakfast and lunch for PreK-12 students in school-based settings, and proposes making free school meals permanent in state law.
Early Identification & Intervention (Early On)
Executive Recommendation: Total of $25.1 million for Early On, Michigan’s early intervention program for families with infants and toddlers with developmental delays and disabilities. Senate Proposal House Proposal Passed by the Legislature
Increases by $1.45 million for a total of $25.1 million total
Maternal & Child Health
Executive Recommendation: Total of $23.25 million for maternal and infant health initiatives, the CenteringPregnancy program, hospital improvements in maternal safety, rural home visiting, and car seat distribution. Senate Proposal House Proposal Passed by the Legislature
No funding included to study the expansion of continuous Medicaid coverage for children under age 6.
Maintains $5 million for local collaboratives to improve and coordinate maternal and infant health as a part of the perinatal quality collaborative.
Maintains $10 million to support hospital improvements in maternal safety and outcomes; including focusing on pregnancy-associated injury and death, racial disparities, and substance use disorder.
Maintains funding for CenteringPregnancy at $5 million.
Maintains $2.75 million for rural home visiting program.
Maintains $500,000 to provide car seats for newborns who are TANF eligible.
Economic Security
Executive Recommendation: Total of $20 million for Rx Kids, Michigan’s innovative cash prescription program aimed at reducing child poverty in specifically funded communities. Senate Proposal House Proposal Passed by the Legislature
Maintains funding for Prenatal and Infant Cash Support Program "Rx Kids" at $20 million
Workforce Supports
Executive Recommendation: Total of $513.1 million for workforce development programs, registered apprenticeships, Rural Development Grants, and the Michigan Housing and Community Development Fund. As passed by the Senate As passed by the House Passed by the Legislature
$429.1 million in continued funding for workforce development programs and grants, including training opportunities for youth, dislocated workers, and underserved populations, to build pathways into good-paying jobs.
$25 million in continued one-time funding for Workforce Training and Development through Michigan Works! Agencies to support activities that may include job search and job skills training, job placement assistance and vocational rehabilitation services, as necessary.
$5 million in continued funding to support and expand registered apprenticeship opportunities, which allow individuals to earn while they learn, gaining industry-recognized credentials without burdensome tuition debt and expanding opportunities.
$4 million in one-time funding for Rural Development Grants to support projects that enhance land-based industries and rural community infrastructure, including job training, child care, housing and utilities.
$50 million in continued funding for the Michigan Housing and Community Development Fund to continue supporting affordable housing needs and revitalization of neighborhoods and downtowns.
For a comparison, the FY26 Michigan Early Childhood Budget Tracker is available for your review.