November, 2011

New state early childhood office applauded by county educator - Oakland Press
Clinton County Great Start raising funds for scholarships - Lansing State Journal
Investing in young children – Michigan Radio
Ingham Great Start receives Kellogg grant – Lansing State Journal
10 ways to get involved with local Great Start – Inside Business Pontiac
An early but important investment – Cadillac Chamber Magazine
Great Start Collaborative - Resources for Early Childhood Education – Oakland Co. Moms
Sec. Duncan says Office for Early Learning will enhance state efforts – Grand Rapids Press
Group affirms early childhood efforts – Three Rivers Commercial News
Kalamazoo law enforcement makes case for early childhood – Kalamazoo Gazette
Kinder Learning funding received for school – Coldwater Daily Reporter
Help out families with diaper donations – Niles Star

M-Live.com, October 2011
Third time's the charm? Michigan tries again for Race to the Top funds after two failed bids
Michigan is one of 35 states to submit its application for the third phase of the U.S. government's Race to the Top grant program, which will be doling out $500 million for education reform.

Argus Press, September 2011
Great Start Shiawassee gets big boost for 3-year-olds
OWOSSO — Great Start Shiawassee has raised enough money to send 75 3-year-olds from across the county to preschool this fall — for free.

Hillsdale Daily News, September 2011
$100K enables Great Start to help more children
The Hillsdale County Intermediate School District’s Great Start Collaborative program recently secured $100,000 to help families with young children in the community.

Great Start website, June 29, 2011
Governor signs executive order creating Office of Great Start
LANSING – Fulfilling his goal of refashioning education in Michigan along a cradle to adulthood model, Gov. Rick Snyder today signed an executive order creating an Office of Great Start within the Department of Education.Holland Sentinel, June 29, 2011

Snyder emphasizes importance of early childhood development
Lansing — Gov. Rick Snyder today signed an executive order creating the Michigan Office of Great Start. The office, within the Michigan Department of Education, will be a conglomerate of the state’s early childhood programs and resources.

The Detroit News, August 30
Training is lagging for home day care workers
Excerpt:  With less than a month to go, thousands of home day care providers across Michigan have yet to meet state-ordered training requirements. 

The-Daily-Record.com, August 29
Pre-kindergarten a crime deterrent step
Excerpt:  Growing up, the start of the new school year was always an exciting time. There were new classrooms and new teachers, even some new friends. School was a stimulating opportunity to learn and to have fun.
 
Lansing State Journal, August 27
Sandbox Party convention draws thousands to MSU
Excerpt:  Several thousand parents, children and advocates for early childhood programs swarmed into the Breslin Center on Thursday for the Sandbox Party Convention.
 
The Detroit Free Press, August 27
Sandbox crowd provides a convention warm-up
Excerpt:  It was a noisy warm-up to this weekend's state party conventions, as gubernatorial candidates Rick Snyder and Virg Bernero spoke briefly to a few thousand children and parents gathered Thursday to promote state support for early childhood development programs.
 
The Detroit News, August 27
Gov hopefuls discuss early learning at Sandbox Party
Excerpt:  Thousands of pint-sized Michiganians boogied, bounced in their strollers and provided one heck of an audience Thursday for Michigan's gubernatorial candidates.
 

lenconnect.com, August 27
Lenawee residents attend Sandbox convention
Excerpt:  Kay Barber of Adrian and her 5-year-old twin son and daughter joined about 5,000 people Thursday at the first-ever Sandbox Party convention in East Lansing.

 
WWMT.com, August 26
Gubernatorial candidates speak at unique convention
Excerpt:  The race to November is on and both of Michigan's gubernatorial candidates are in full campaign mode.
 
WILX.com, August 26
Candidates Talk To Kids, But Reach Their Parents
Excerpt:  Snyder and Bernero are doing their best to connect with the crowd of children at the Sandbox Party Thursday.
 
WXYZ.com, August 26
Thousands come together in East Lansing for the Sandbox Party Convention
Excerpt:  Thousands of people came together in East Lansing for the state’s first nonpolitical, political style convention.
 
WLNS.com, August 26
Thousands Push To Get More Funds For Kids
Excerpt:  Thousands of people packed Michigan State's Breslin Center, calling on lawmakers to invest more in Michigan's children. Members of the sandbox party convention are teaming up with parents from across the state to secure a brighter future for Michigan's children.
 
Mlive.com, August 26
Sandbox' features Mich. candidates for governor
Excerpt:  The two main candidates to become Michigan's next governor both say they'd make early childhood programs and education a priority if elected in November.
 
MichiganRadio.com, August 23
Child advocates host "Sandbox Party Convention"
Excerpt:  Both candidates for Michigan governor are expected to appear at a nonpartisan convention this week hosted by a group of advocates for early childhood programs.
 
BattleCreekEnquirer.com, August 23
Teacher visits relieve firstday worries
Excerpt:  Cassi Rivera peeked out the window in her family's front door, expecting a visitor. When she saw Heather Husiak walking up the driveway toward her home, the 4-year-old opened the door and stepped outside on the porch to hug Husiak.
 
Mlive.com, August 22
Local Saginaw advocates for children's funding to travel to Sandbox Party Convention in East Lansing
Excerpt:  Several Saginaw moms and their kids are heading to Lansing this week to create awareness of the need for government funding to support programs for young children.
 
thetimesherald.com, August 15
Bus trip planned to education event
Excerpt:  Parents, teachers and advocates of early childhood programs and services are invited to the Sandbox Party Convention from 1-4 p.m. Aug. 26 at East Lansing's Breslin Student Event Center.  A bus will depart from the St. Clair County Regional Educational Service Agency at 8 a.m. that day and will bring participants back to RESA after the convention ends at 4 p.m.
 
Lansing State Journal, August 14
ECIC moves to new spot in Boji Tower
Excerpt:  The Early Childhood Investment Corp. has moved into the Boji Tower, 112 E. Allegan St., in downtown Lansing. The nonprofit group moved from its former location at 221 N. Pine St. to be closer to state government departments with which it works, officials said.
 
The herald-palladium, August 12
VB advocacy group joins state effort
Excerpt:  Members from the Great Start Collaborative of Van Buren County will be in East Lansing on Aug. 26 to join people from Michigan's 55 other Great Start Collaboratives and 70 Great Start Parent Coalitions for an afternoon of education, entertainment and advocacy, the child advocacy organization announced.
 
Huron Daily Tribune, August 6
Take a stand — in the sandbox
Excerpt:  When one thinks of a sandbox party, an image of smiling children surrounded by shovels, pails and mini sand sculptures may come to mind. For children, the sandbox is a common ground for hours of amusement, a place to come together with peers to share toys — and friendship.
 
Traverse City Record-Eagle.com, August 6
Forum: Child well-being rating dips
Excerpt:  It's not a great time to be a kid in Michigan. The annual national Kids Count report released by the Annie E. Casey Foundation bears grim testament to that fact. Michigan fell to 30th among the 50 states in child well-being, our lowest ranking in more than a decade. Last year, we were 27th.
 
HOMETOWNlife.com, August 5
Huron Valley Recreation briefs
Excerpt:  Huron Valley Recreation announces its plan to offer care for infants starting at 6 weeks old, beginning Aug. 23. In addition, child care continues to be offered year round for toddlers and 3- and 4-yearold students.
 
Detroit Free Press, August 5
Make children priority in DPS
Excerpt:  No one seems to know what to do about public education in Detroit. The question is a simple one: "What does it take to successfully educate the children of Detroit?"
 
Huron Daily Tribune, August 5
Child care costs rising, report says
Excerpt:  Though it may not shock working parents, others may be surprised to hear findings from a report issued Monday show child care costs continue to rise despite the economic downtown, and day care expenses for many families exceed food costs and other household expenses.
 
Detroit Free Press, August 4
Kids suffer as Michigan slips deeper into poverty
Excerpt:  When people talk about the recession and the tough job market, it's usually the plight of unemployed adults that springs to mind.
 
Huron Daily Tribune, August 3
Report: State economy impacting kids
Excerpt:  Michigan’s shaky economic status led to a lower nationwide ranking in the 2010 Kids Count report, which provides an overall rank based on 10 measures of child well-being and recently was released by the Annie E. Casey Foundation.
 
Mlive.com, August 3
No child left indoors: Outdoor Discovery Center in Holland reintroduces a generation of kids to nature
Excerpt:  Eight-year-old Ella Lubberts put her finger out to give a tentative touch to a 12-inch garter snake, then quickly withdrew her hand. “I thought it would be slimy, but it wasn’t. I liked touching the turtle better,” said Ella, one of about 40 children attending an Outdoor Discovery Center Wetland Critters program at the Holland State Park last week.
 
Wired.com, July 27
How Preschool Changes the Brain
Excerpt:  We live in a world of scarce governmental resources, and they seem to be getter scarcer. This means it’s more important than ever to pick our public investments wisely. A new paper by Flavio Cunha, an economist at the University of Pennsylvania, and James Heckman, a Nobel Laureate at the University of Chicago, documents the wisdom of one particular kind of investment: Preschool.
 
BattleCreekEnquirer.com, July 27
Son uses health and safety training to save his mom
Excerpt:  In an unanticipated chain of events, Glenn Cobb became his 82-year-old mother's biggest hero.
 
WZZM13.com, July 27
Increased child poverty; decreased high school dropout rate
Excerpt:  The latest snapshot of child well being has been released and Michigan has fallen in its ranking.
 
Macon.com, July 25
Research on early learning shows economic payoff
Excerpt:  An anti-crime organization made up of law enforcement, prosecutors and survivors of violence has issued a series of reports for different states on the importance of quality early childhood programs. To make its point, the group, Fight Crime: Invest in Kids, chronicles some of the most prominent studies:
 
Ionia Sentinel Standard, July 21
Preparing for kindergarten: Threshold Academy introduces coloring book to help children
Excerpt:  A local elementary school is attempting to prepare children for Kindergarten with the help of a free coloring book.
 
WGVU Broadcasting, July 19
More Than 2 Dozen Candidates To Attend Forum On Early Childhood Ed
Excerpt:  The Great Start Parent Coalition of Kent County is a group of parents and local professionals working with a non-profit organization to support young children. They’re expecting more than 2 dozen candidates running for either a state house or senate seat in the county to attend their event focusing on what candidates will do to boost support for and sustain early childhood education.
 
Examiner.com, July 18
T.E.A.C.H. scholarship program
Excerpt: There is a scholarship program for early childhood professionals called T.E.A.C.H. (Teacher Education and Compensation Helps). This program is one of the initiatives supported by the Early Childhood Investment Corporation, or ECIC. The Michigan Association for the Education of Young Children (MiAEYC) just became the new license holder for the T.E.A.C.H. program. Previously the program had been administered by the Michigan 4C Association.
 
Detroit Free Press, July 18
Children just as important as tea partyers
Excerpt:  The tea party movement may not be the most important force affecting the races for governor and the Legislature in Michigan this year. 
 
Lansing State Journal, July 18
Sandbox Party to advocate for youngest residents
Excerpt:  The Eaton Great Start Collaborative and Great Start Parent Coalition, along with the other 54 counties, are gearing up to make sure local voters know about the Sandbox Party for Michigan's Youngest Learners, which was launched in Lansing July 1.
 
Education Report, July 16
‘Project ReImagine’ taking shape in N.I.C.E.
Excerpt:  The 1,200-student rural district has launched an online academy, been approved as an early middle college, taken a stand for universal preschool, and is converting to a technology-heavy, project-based learning approach in its high school.
 
CMU Public Broadcasting, July 15
Scholarship program for child care providers to change hands
Excerpt: A scholarship program that helps child care providers across the state is changing hands. The Teacher Education and Compensation Helps program, or TEACH, awards scholarships to child care providers pursuing higher education.
 
Fox 2 News, July 14
Senate District 22, Chuck Fellows
Excerpt:  For most of my life I have avoided “professional politics” choosing to work quietly and locally as an active participant in the democratic process. Aside from local ballot issues, school board elections and appointed positions I have simply paid attention to issues which concern me, taxation, health and safety, education, business and local government.
 
Heritage Newspapers, July 14
Silver Maples hosts 'An evening of civil discourse'
Excerpt:  Residents packed the conference room to capacity at Silver Maples of Chelsea on July 6 for the first “Evening of Civil Discourse” political roundtable discussion. U.S. Rep. Mark Schauer, D-Dist. 7, state Rep. Pam Byrnes, D-Dist. 52, County Commissioner Mark Ouimet and Chelsea Mayor Jason Lindauer were invited by event organizer Will Johnson for the nearly two-hour event.
 
Gladwin County Record, July 13
Sandbox Party focuses on young children as key to Michigan’s economic turnaround
Excerpt:  The Clare-Gladwin Great Start Collaborative and Great Start Parent Coalition are gearing up to make sure local voters know about the Sandbox Party for Michigan’s Youngest Learners, which was launched in Lansing.
 
Lansing State Journal, July 12
New strategies helpful to struggling Lansing students
Excerpt:  After months of reports, discussions and a deadlocked vote July 1, the Lansing school board meets again tonight to try to decide how the district will help students who don't succeed at Sexton, Everett or Eastern high schools.
 
Three Rivers Commercial-News, July 10
Young children key to economic turnaround
Excerpt:  The St. Joseph County Great Start Collaborative and Great Start Parent Coalition are gearing up to make sure local voters know about the Sandbox Party for Michigan’s Youngest Learners, which was recently launched in Lansing.
 
uppermichiganssource.com, July 10
A 'Great Start' to Education
Excerpt:  The Dickinson-Iron County Great Start and Regional Child Care Resource Center implemented a Family Resource Library at the Dickinson County Library in Iron Mountain.
 
Press & Guide, July 10
Around the Capitol: Local reps support education funding plan
Excerpt:  State Reps. Gino Polidori(D-Dearborn), Andy Dillon (D-Redford, who represents north Dearborn Heights), Dian Slavens (D-Canton) and Douglas Geiss(D-Taylor) were among those who voted to protect Michigan’s schools from further budget cuts and give them the time they need to plan for the upcoming school year, according to the officials.
 
WLKM Radio, July 4
New program for young learners
Excerpt:  The St. Joseph County Great Start Collaborative and Great Start Parent Coalition have teamed up to promote the Sandbox Party for Michigan’s Youngest Learners. The group was launched in Lansing late last week.
 
River Country Journal, July 2
Sandbox Party focuses on young children as key to Michigan’s economic turnaround
Excerpt:  The St. Joseph County Great Start Collaborative and Great Start Parent Coalition are gearing up to make sure local voters know about the Sandbox Party for Michigan’s Youngest Learners, which was launched in Lansing Thursday
 
Lansing State Journal, July 2 
'Sandbox Party' sets sights on early education funding
Excerpt:  Legislature approves another $2.6 million for youngest children
  
mlive.com, July 2 
House Speaker Andy Dillon makes campaign stop at Creston High School
Excerpt:  House Speaker Andy Dillon, Democratic gubernatorial candidate, today brought his "Renewing the Michigan Dream" tour to Creston High School.
 
TalkLansing.Net, July 1
Interview with State Representative, Richard Ball
Excerpt:  "It's not only a tremendous lifelong benefit for the individual child, but for the financial welfare for our state"
 

WKAR NewsRoom, July 1
"Sandbox Party" to advance interests of MI's young children
Excerpt:  Advocates of early childhood programs gathered in Lansing Thursday morning
to announce the formation of the "Sandbox Party" to advance the interests of
Michigan children up to the age of five.
 
The Evening News, July 1
Sandbox Party focuses on young Children
Excerpt:  The EUP Great Start Collaborative and Great Start Parent Coalition are gearing up to make sure local voters know about the Sandbox Party for Michigan’s Youngest Learners, which was launched in Lansing today.
 
MIRS news.com, July 1 
Child Advocate Groups Push New 'Sandbox' Party
Excerpt:  There are the Republicans, the Democrats and the Tea Partiers -- and now there will be the Sandboxers -- according to a coalition of groups who argue that the voices of Michigan's youngest learner needs its own political party. 
 
Lansing State Journal, July 1
New "Sandbox Party" to provide voice for kids

Excerpt:  A group of children played in a sandbox this morning as a new "party" was launched nearby in Lansing.

ECIC News Archive