Hosting Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer at Beyond the Bell, an in-home program launched by educator Michelle Cook, was a proud moment that underscored the progress Michigan has made in addressing the child care crisis.
At Wonderschool, we’ve partnered with the state of Michigan for the past four years to expand access to high-quality child care. This work has been about rolling up our sleeves and solving real challenges that families, providers, and communities face every day.
Together with Michigan, we’ve focused on three critical areas:
The impact so far has been substantial:
These numbers represent more than data points. They represent children who now have safe, reliable care. Parents who are able to return to work. Providers who feel supported and confident running their businesses. Communities that are stronger because early learning is accessible.
Michigan has also been an innovator with policies like Tri-Share, which shares the cost of child care across families, employers, and the state. While Wonderschool is not directly involved with Tri-Share in Michigan, we’re encouraged to see the state layering affordability solutions alongside supply expansion. Both are critical to making child care truly work for families.
Governor Whitmer and her team, and other education leaders like Emily Laidlaw and Marcus Keech, deserve credit for their leadership. They’ve recognized child care as the economic infrastructure it is—the foundation that allows parents to work, children to thrive, and communities to grow. And they’ve taken action.
I’m grateful for the partnership Wonderschool has built with the state and for the opportunity to play a role in this important work. Michigan’s progress is proof that when states invest in child care, when they support providers and expand access, families and the economy both win.
The future of child care in America will be built by states willing to innovate and collaborate. Michigan is showing the way forward, and we’re honored to be part of the journey.
If you’re a policymaker, an employer, or a community leader, I invite you to look closely at what Michigan has achieved! The lessons here can—and should—be applied across the country. Families are counting on us, and together, we can deliver.
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