LANSING – The Michigan House today adopted a resolution proposed by State Representative Mary Valentine (D-Norton Shores) that calls on the U.S. Congress to approve the Education Begins at Home Act – which provides grants to pay for early childhood development and parent coaching programs.
"Access to early education opens the doors to success for our children and our communities," Valentine said. "Ninety percent of the human brain develops before the age of 5, when the mind is thirsting to learn. Those who start learning early will be better prepared to succeed in school and to compete for the good-paying jobs of the 21st century global economy."
The act will authorize the use of $500 million in grants over three years from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to:
- Deliver quality programs of early childhood home visitation to pregnant women and parents of children from birth until entry into kindergarten;
- Expand quality programs of early childhood home visitation to more effectively reach families serving in the military and families with English language learners;
- Improve Head Start programs;
- Establish a public education and awareness campaign about the importance of the proper care of infants and young children; and
- Make available parenting classes that teach proper care for newborns.
Children who complete a quality preschool program earn $2,000 more per month as adults than those who do not attend preschool, and are far less likely to commit crimes, according to a study conducted at the Perry Preschool in Ypsilanti by the High/Scope Educational Research Foundation. The study also showed that early education is a significant cost-saver for the state – for every $1 we spend on preschool, we save $17 down the line.
Valentine's resolution is supported by "Fight Crime: Invest in Kids Michigan" and "Parents as Teachers."
"It is important to remember that when a child is given the opportunity to live up to his or her full potential, we all benefit," Valentine said. "Michigan's children must have the tools to compete and early childhood development programs will help them do that. I urge my colleagues in the U.S. Congress to take action on this resolution."