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GreatStarttoQualityisanexampleox1ftheinnovationswecanexpecttocomex1fromtheMichiganDepartmentox1fEducationOx1ffceox1fGreatStart.TheOx1ffcewascreatedlastx1fallbyExecutiveOrderox1fGov.RickSnyderandasastartingpointhasbroughttogetherthestatex19searlylearningprogramsx14childcaretheHeadStartStateCollaborationOx1ffceGreatStartReadinessProgramspreschoolspecialeducationandEarlyOn.TheEarlyChildhoodInvestmentCorporationwasaskedtoimplementtheratingandimprovementsystemx1forMichiganx19searlylearningsystembecausetheOx1ffceox1fGreatStartlookstotheInvestmentCorporationtomaximizeMichiganx19searlychildhooddevelopmentex1fx1fortsthroughresearchanddevelopmentinnovationandqualityassessment.AsanindependentpubliclyownednonprofttheInvestmentCorporationhastheabilitytolinklocalcommunitieswithstategovernmentandbringtogetherthepublicandprivatesectorstoassurethatsolidinvestmentsinearlychildhooddevelopmentproducesolidreturnsx1forallinMichigan.x1cTheOx1ffceox1fGreatStartwillpromotestandardsandaccountabilitymodelsthatbringtogetherdix1fx1ferentx1fundingstreamsandprogramsinordertomakeasensiblesystemx1forMichiganx19syoungchildrenandtheirx1familiesx1dsaidSusanBromanDeputySuperintendentox1ftheOx1ffceox1fGreatStart.x1cWearex1fortunatetohavesuchastrongpartnerintheEarlyChildhoodInvestmentCorporationtoundertakethisandotherworkvitaltobuildingearlychildhooddevelopmentsupportsandaccountabilityx1forourstate.x1dPartnersworkingtoimproveearlychildhooddevelopmentinMichiganToniHartkedirectoroftheWayneGreatStartCollaborativehasbeencloselyinvolvedintheBrightmoorpilotprojectandhasservedonadesigncommitteeforGreatStarttoQuality.TheWaynecollaborativeisadiversegroupofcommunityleadersfocusedongivingtheircommunityastrongvoiceincreatinganearlychildhooddevelopmentsystemthatworksforthem.Shesaidx1cpeertopeerx1dlearningbyearlychildhoodeducatorslikeBrannonisgoingtoplayanimportantroleinGreatStarttoQualityalongwithtrainingandsupportfromGreatStarttoQualityResourceCenters.Thiswillleadtotheultimategoalx14gettingchildrenreadyforkindergarten.x1cToomanychildrenarecomingtoschoolwhoarejustnotreadyx1dsaidHartke.Hartkebelievesthatoncequalityratingsarepublicparentswillstartdemandingqualitywhichinturnwillmotivatemanyprogramstoconsiderhowtheycanbecomeahigh-qualityprogram.Thatx19swhathappenedtoUrsulaGraham.WhenGrahammovedfromOhiotoDetroitfouryearsagoandstartedsearchingforaprogramforherone-year-oldsonAlexandersheknewshehadtogox1coutsideofthefamily.x1dShealsoknewshewantedthebestqualitycareshecouldaffordx14anurturingatmospherethatwouldsupporthertoddlerx19searlylearninganddevelopment.x1cIwasworking40hoursaweek.Iwantedsomeonewhowouldbeapartnerinhelpingmeraisemysonx1dshesaid.Oneearlymatchdidnx19tlast.x1cMysonwasfedandtooknapsbutthatwasaboutit.x1dGrahamandherhusbanddecidedachangewasinorder.x1cIdidnx19twanthimwatchingtelevisionallday.IwantedhimtohavetheexperienceofeducationwhichiswhatIlikedaboutGwenShiversx1dGrahamsaid.Shiverswhosehomeislicensedfor12childrenisx1cconstantlygoingtoschoolx1dGrahamsaid.x1cTomethosethingsmeantshewasmotivatedandtakinghercraftveryseriously.x1dShiversacertix1dedChildDevelopmentAssociateparticipatedinapilotqualityimprovementprograminDetroitx19sBrightmoorneighborhoodoneofthecityx19stargetedareasforurbanrevitalizationandhometomanychildrenwithhighneeds.x1cHavingthoseclassestaughtmeawholedifferentwayofteachingmykidsx1dShiverssaid.ToniHartkedirectorox1ftheWayneGreatStartCollaborativebelievesthatoncequalityratingsarepublicparentswillstartdemandingqualitywhichinturnwillmotivatemanyprogramstoconsiderhowtheycanbecomeahigh-qualityprogram.SPRING2012GREATSTARTSHERE7