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A new bill in Michigan would make kindergarten mandatory for all public schools and lower the compulsory attendance age from 6 to 5. However, the bill has caused concern for homeschool advocates as it may take away some of the autonomy that parents have had for years.

Michigan could make kindergarten mandatory. Homeschooling parents worry a registry is next. The bill would require public school districts and academies to provide kindergarten and students to attend at age 5..

Access to quality health care is key to maintaining physical and mental health for young and old, but barriers within the health care system create inequities. To create health equity for all, health professionals can play a vital role by being aware of potential biases and helping advance health equity.

Structural Inequities Contribute to Minority Health Risks The first step in advancing health equity for all is developing a health equity lens in the delivery of care. Here's how we can work together to accomplish that goal.

Parents, child care providers and teachers play crucial roles in the development of children, but sometimes their perspectives are different, and they may have trouble communicating effectively. Join MSU’s Parenting Hour: Let’s Talk: Parent and Provider Communication on Tuesday, April 30 at 8 pm to learn strategies to effectively communicate and explore ways to problem solve communication challenges. To register, visit https://www.canr.msu.edu/events/online-parenting-lets-talk-4-30.

Online Extension Extras Parenting Hour Let's Talk: Parent and Provider Communication Extension Extras Parenting Hour is an online series of parenting workshops offered at no cost to you that provides guidance for parents of young children as they navigate the challenges, joys, and concerns of parenting.

This year’s theme for is Planet vs. Plastics – creating widespread awareness on the health risks of plastics with the goal of building a plastic-free planet for generations to come. Learn more at https://www.earthday.org/

Launch Michigan, a nonprofit committed to improving Michigan's public education system, has released a new dashboard of data indicating that Michigan's schools are underperforming compared to districts in high-performing states. Read more at

Report: Michigan Schools Underperforming Compared to Nation’s Best - DBusiness Magazine Michigan schools underperforming across metrics compared to similar districts in top-performing states, according to data Launch Michigan.

Join MSU’s Parenting Hour Tuesday, April 16 at 8 pm to learn about The Importance of Outdoor Play. The webinar will highlight why outdoor play is crucial for children, ways to encourage your children to go outside, and ideas to make the playground experience more enjoyable. To register, visit

Online Extension Extras Parenting Hour Importance of Outdoor Play Extension Extras Parenting Hour is an online series of parenting workshops offered at no cost to you that provides guidance for parents of young children as they navigate the challenges, joys, and concerns of parenting.

Join MSU's Parenting Hour on Tuesday, April 9 at 8 pm to learn about the best practices for parenting in the digital age. The session will delve into the benefits and risks to children exposed to technology and social media and how this can impact their social, emotional, physical, and educational development. The discussion will be centered around children aged 0-8.

Online Extension Extras Parenting Hour Parenting in a Digital Age Children 0-8 Extension Extras Parenting Hour is an online series of parenting workshops offered at no cost to you that provides guidance for parents of young children as they navigate the challenges, joys, and concerns of parenting.

Governor Gretchen Whitmer's investment in PreK for All is often discussed as having positive outcomes, including the opportunity to develop essential social and academic skills. Gaining more conversational traction is the power of universal pre-K to disrupt the preschool-to-prison pipeline.

PreK for All a good way to disrupt the preschool-to-prison pipeline Good preschool programs yield tremendous social and economic advantages such as higher high school graduation rates and reduced chances of criminal behavior.

Last year, Michigan took a crucial step by allocating an extra $200 million to schools in need. However, advocates emphasize that Michigan lawmakers must do more to ensure that all schools receive the funding they require to provide quality education to our children.

Advocates want Michigan lawmakers to give more funding to programs aimed at educating youth in impoverished communities More funding for students in special education, English language learners, and other students considered to be at risk is still needed, advocates say

Did you know that according to a recent survey conducted by the University of Michigan Health C.S. Mott Children Hospital National Poll on Children's Health, a majority of mothers and over two-thirds of fathers with children aged 0-4 use social media platforms to discuss topics such as feeding and behavioral challenges? You can read more about this survey at https://mottpoll.org/reports/sharing-parenting-getting-advice-through-social-media #:~:text=Most%20parents%20of%20young%20children,(63%25%20vs%2042%25)

Sharing on parenting: Getting advice through social media 4 in 5 parents of young children use social media to discuss parenting topics. Nearly half of parents rate social media as very useful for getting new ideas to try. 2 in 5 parents think it’s difficult to distinguish good vs bad advice on social media. More than half of parents use privacy settings...

Join MSU’s Parenting Hour tomorrow at 8 pm to learn positive discipline techniques that focus on creating an environment that is safe, fun, and conducive to learning. To register, please visit https://www.canr.msu.edu/events/online-parenting-positive-discipline-4-2-24.

Online Extension Extras Parenting Hour Positive Discipline Extension Extras Parenting Hour is a free online series of parenting workshops that provides guidance for parents of young children as they navigate the challenges, joys, and concerns of parenting.

The best Easter is one spent with your peeps.

Ensuring that every child receives a strong educational foundation is essential to their future success. That's why a new proposed bill will make kindergarten mandatory to provide all children with the opportunity to develop the skills they need to succeed in school and beyond.

Bill would make kindergarten mandatory for Michigan children Detroit Superintendent Nikolai Vitti says making kindergarten a requirement would address high rates of chronic absenteeism in that grade.

Providing free and accessible preschool education to all families requires addressing the need for more qualified staff and affordable quality child care facilities. The state is planning to work with non-profit organizations, school districts, and colleges to tackle these issues.
https://www.chalkbeat.org/detroit/2024/03/18/nonprofits-work-to-build-prek-teacher-pipeline-in-michigan/ #:~:text=The%20Michigan%20Educator%20Workforce%20Initiative,childhood%20center%20leaders%20and%20teachers.

To meet Michigan’s universal pre-K goal, nonprofits are partnering to attract and retain early childhood educators Gov. Gretchen Whitmer wants preschool to be universal in Michigan. A lack of qualified teachers and too few child care spots stand in the way.

We know child care has been underfunded for decades, and the pandemic demonstrated how indispensable child care is for the well-being and economic security of children, families and communities while revealing the system’s shortcomings. Child Car Aware of America’s (CCAoA) report Demanding Change focuses on four aspects of the system and issues impacting them.

Demanding Change: Repairing our Child Care System The Demanding Change report explores the impact of COVID-19 on child care access, affordability & quality and the future of the child care industry.

New data shows Michigan traditional public schools continue to educate fewer students, while charter schools and some private schools add them.

Michigan’s charters, virtual schools buck trend in falling enrollment | Bridge Michigan Michigan’s traditional public schools continue to report declining enrollment as parents choose charter and private schools. Public school enrollment fell by 7,400 in fall of 2023 though it rose in the state’s publicly funded charter schools.

As federal funds are spent and schools lose staff, school finance experts are concerned about a severe teacher shortage that could impact the quality of education for many students. Learn more.

Michigan's teacher shortage is about to get more financially complicated Michigan teachers were more likely to leave the classroom during the pandemic. School finance experts say districts are heading for a financial storm.

Registration is now open for the 2024 Michigan AEYC Annual Early Childhood Conference April 18-20 in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Come together with early childhood education peers from across the state to learn and celebrate the power of purposeful play.

Home - MIAEYC Michigan AEYCAnnual Early Childhood ConferenceApril 18-20, Grand RapidsLEARN MORECDA PD Specialist HubInformation for new and existing PD Specialists, CDA verification visit request board, PD specialist network, and incentive payment opportunities.LEARN MORENew Scholarship available as a project of....

A pilot project to address racial bias and inequity in the child welfare system is being launched in Michigan to lower the rate of medical professionals who overreport Black, Latina and Indigenous families to the welfare system.

Pilot projects will help stop the overreporting of children of color to child welfare Project will look for ways to sensitize medical professionals to their potential biases when they encounter children of color.

Even though it’s a bit chilly outside, we have a little extra spring in our step because we know warmer weather is on the way.

Join , and , policymakers, parents, and early childhood professionals for Early Childhood Capital Day on Wednesday March 20. http://bit.ly/49ALbvc

Your blessings outnumber the shamrocks that grow and may trouble avoid you wherever you go. Happy

A Wall Street Journal analysis of data from 10 states shows public-school teachers are leaving the profession in higher numbers than prior to the pandemic. Learn the combination of factors why teachers are still leaving the profession. https://www.wsj.com/us-news/education/teachers-leaving-quitting-schools-data-302d282e

Join the Parent Talk System Webinar Series: Guiding Principles for Highly Successful Parenting, March 18 - April 15. This workshop series is designed to help parents explore ways you can be highly effective in raising your kids to be successful in school and in life. Learn more at

Guiding Principles for Highly Successful Parenting Webinar Series - March-April 2024 Guiding Principles is a FREE online course for parents of toddlers to teens to learn strategies for helping children, parents and families be successful.

Did you know that good sleep can be linked to children’s physical, mental, emotional, and social health? Check out some practical suggestions from the Sleep Foundationon nurturing children’s healthy sleep habits for lifelong well-being.

Nurturing healthy sleep habits in children for lifelong well-being Good sleep can be linked to children's physical, mental, emotional and social health.

Partners in the Michigan ACE Initiative are working to raise awareness of the impact of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), prevent ACEs, and foster resilience among children who have experienced them.

200-partner collaborative raises awareness about impact of adverse childhood experiences in Michigan Partners in the Michigan ACE Initiative are working to raise awareness of the impact of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), prevent ACEs, and foster resilience among children who have experienced them.

May this month of Ramadan be full of blessings and may you be showered with peace, joy, and prosperity.

Time to Spring Forward one hour! Make sure to set your clocks ahead. Before you fall asleep tonight. .

Talking openly about racism, bias, and differences, while intimidating and uncomfortable, is critical to raising anti-racist children and transforming systems of oppression. Join MSU’s Parenting Hour tonight at 8pm for the webinar, Talking with Kids About Race. Topics to be discussed include why and how to talk about race, what is racism and social identities. To learn more and register visit,

Online Extension Extras Parenting Hour Talking With Kids About Race Extension Extras Parenting Hour is a free online series of parenting workshops that provides guidance for parents of young children as they navigate the challenges, joys, and concerns of parenting.

Save the date for the Michigan AEYC Annual Early Childhood Conference taking place in Grand Rapids, Mich., April 18-20. The 3-day conference is the largest early childhood conference in Michigan featuring more than 150 workshops, keynote presentations, Learning Fair, exhibits, and opportunities to learn from and network with other early childhood professionals.