Thank you @wilxTV for highlighting the 2026 Child Care Champions and helping raise awareness of how affordable, high-quality child care strengthens Michigan's workforce, families and economy.
wilx.com/2026/09/24/michigan…
Michigan is recognizing 9 Child Care Champions for developing solutions that strengthen access to care and support families and our workforce — from Northern to Southeast Michigan.
See all 9: go.mi.gov/xfciw3460#ChildCareChampions#MichiganChildCare#MiLEAP
ALT A group of individuals stands together, some holding awards, in front of a backdrop with the MiLEAP logo. The text reads: "Press Release: Michigan Recognizes 2026 Child Care Champions for Strengthening Access to Care Across the State."
Join out‑of‑school time professionals, youth leaders, partners, and advocates from across Michigan at the 2026 MAC Leadership Summit on Oct. 9 in Flint! Registration is open through Sept. 25.
Learn more and register: miafterschool.org/mac-leader…
ALT Leadership Summit logo with a tree graphic and text reading "Grounded and Growing: Rooted in Purpose." Leaves in different colors are shown.
4,000 children can take home up to 2 free books this Saturday at Doodle Street at ArtPrize in GR!
MiLEAP is proud to work with @ArtPrize and @Scholastic as part of Michigan’s #EveryChildReads initiative.
• Sept. 26 | 11 a.m.–4 p.m.
• Grand Rapids Downtown Market
ALT "Person sitting with a child in a stroller, reading a book at a book fair. Background shows books and colorful artwork. Text reads: 'Press Release: 4,000 Children to Receive Two Free Books at Book Fair During ArtPrize.' MiLeap logo is visible."
Deadline approaching! Apply for Michigan’s 2026–27 Out‑of‑School Time (OST) Grant by Wednesday, Sept. 23 at 12 p.m. OST grants support high-quality before‑school, after‑school and summer learning programs for K–12 youth across Michigan. Details: go.mi.gov/6gtmk3423
MI Kickoff is hitting the road.
After bringing more than 1,000 young men from 40 Michigan high schools to Ford Field, the regional series is bringing college and career exploration directly to students across Michigan.
Read the full release: go.mi.gov/qzq0t3427
ALT A group of people stand inside a large industrial space, facing a speaker with a machine in the background. Text overlay reads "Press Release: 5 Regional MI Kickoff Events to Connect More Young Men to College and Career Pathways" alongside the MiLEAP logo.
The Michigan Achievement Scholarship can help eligible Michigan students pay for college or career training. With three pathways, there are options to fit different education and career goals.
Explore which pathway may be right for you at Mi.gov/Achievement
ALT This image is a promotional flyer for the Michigan Achievement Scholarship. It highlights benefits like the community college guarantee, stating it provides free tuition for up to three years. It mentions $5,500 per year for private universities and career training support up to $2,000. For more information, it directs to the Michigan.gov website. Several logos are at the bottom, including MiLEAP and Federal Student Aid.
$672.5 million in state financial aid helped more than 166,000 Michigan students pursue postsecondary education in 2025-26.
That's a 159.3% increase in students receiving state aid compared with before the pandemic.
Read more: go.mi.gov/jjsv73408
ALT A graphic featuring the "MI Student Aid" logo, with an outline of Michigan and the text "Accessible • Affordable • Attainable." Below, a press release announces "$672.5 Million in State Financial Aid Helps More Than 166,000 Michigan Students Pursue Postsecondary Education." The MiLEAP logo is in the bottom corner. The background includes a green section with white dots.
ALT A group of people in graduation attire hold up caps. A text overlay states, "159.3% increase in Michigan students receiving state financial aid compared with before the pandemic." The MiLEAP logo is visible.
Give your child a strong start with high-quality PreK, now enrolling for the 2026-27 school year! PreK helps children develop essential intellectual, social, and emotional skills to get ahead in school.
Learn more at MiPreKforAll.org#PreKforAll#MIPreKforAll
ALT Two children are engaged in a playful activity with clay at a table. The image features the text "PreK for ALL" and "CHILDREN WHO START AHEAD, STAY AHEAD," accompanied by an outline of Michigan.
Last week, our team attended the Basic Needs Summit hosted by @MICollegeAccess and @MichiganLEAP in Lansing. @MuskegonCC presented about their Jayhawk Hub, a model for serving adult learners with essential resources.
Last week, our team attended the Basic Needs Summit hosted by @MICollegeAccess and @MichiganLEAP in Lansing. @MuskegonCC presented about their Jayhawk Hub, a model for serving adult learners with essential resources.
MiLEAP’s Synthia Britton joined the Driving Michigan Prosperity Investors Panel in Grand Rapids to discuss how investments in early childhood, child care, and literacy strengthen children, families, communities and Michigan’s workforce. #MiLEAP#Michigan#ChildCare
ALT A panel of five individuals sits at a long table on a stage during the Statewide Housing Survey event. Behind them is a screen displaying "Statewide Housing Survey," a QR code, and "Michigan Statewide Housing Plan 2.0." An individual stands at a podium with a sign that reads "Vibrant Futures." An audience is seated facing the stage.
ALT A woman stands behind a podium and addresses event attendees.
ALT A diverse group of panelists, each seated behind a long black table, are engaged in discussion at an event. One person, wearing a bright orange jacket, speaks into a microphone. Other panelists listen attentively. A speaker stands at a podium with a "Vibrant Futures" sign. The room is well-lit and several attendees are visible in the audience.
ALT A group of people are standing and smiling in a conference setting with round tables and chairs. One person is wearing an orange blazer, another is wearing a name tag that reads "Dion Clark," and they are holding a binder. The environment suggests a professional or networking event.
Nearly $1.8 million. Six Michigan colleges. More pathways for adult learners.
Reconnect Enroll with Momentum Grants are helping colleges address barriers to enrollment and support adults as they start, renew or persist in postsecondary education.
More: go.mi.gov/31rji3369
ALT A person sits in a library with bookshelves in the background, resting their chin on their hand. Below, a press release reads: "Nearly $1.8 million awarded to six Michigan colleges to increase adult enrollment." The MiLEAP logo is in the bottom right corner.
We’re stronger together. MiLEAP staff gathered for our Leap with Purpose meeting to celebrate successes, connect across teams, and honor colleagues for outstanding service and years of dedication to Michigan.
#MiLEAP#LeapWithPurpose
ALT A laptop screen displaying a virtual meeting interface. The main slideshow slide reads "Leapster’s Mission" and "Inspire every leap—big or small—toward opportunity, growth, and a bright future," alongside an image of a green frog with the text "Every Journey Begins With A Single Leap." Several participant icons are visible on the right side of the screen.
ALT The image shows a video conference with a main speaker on screen, featuring the text "MiLEAP, Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential." Several other participants are visible in small thumbnails on the right side.
ALT Certainly! Here’s a suggested alt text:
"Presentation slide with the title 'Big Ideas'. Bullet points read: Everyone wins when we work together in trusting relationships. Activate Wellbeing first and foremost. It’s not a task; It’s how you do everything you do. Practice ongoing growth and discovery. Cultivate a practice of leadership presence. Logos for MiFamily Engagement Centers, Center for Relational Learning, and Michigan Reconnect are visible. A sidebar shows a virtual meeting with several participant icons."
ALT The image shows a virtual meeting on a computer screen with several participants in small video windows at the top. Below, a presentation slide is displayed with the title "WORKING BETTER TOGETHER" and a list of questions about team dynamics and perspectives.
Michigan is strengthening support for child care providers statewide.
MiLEAP and @ECIC4Kids announced 7 organizations selected to operate Great Start to Quality Resource Centers across all 10 economic development regions, beginning Oct. 1.
Read more: go.mi.gov/mq5wg3363
ALT Press release image featuring the Great Start to Quality logo, with the tagline "Supporting Excellence in Early Education." Text below announces the selection of new organizations to operate resource centers across Michigan. The MiLeap logo is at the bottom right corner. The background is a combination of teal and white colors.
Child care providers - register for an upcoming Regional Office Hours session to stay informed & connected!
Wayne: 9/17, 1-2 pm
Flint/Macomb: 9/22, 12-1 pm
Southcentral: 9/23, 1-2pm
Northwest/Northeast/UP: 1:30 - 2:30 pm
More info + register at go.mi.gov/gn4j23352
ALT Promotional image featuring a mug with a sticky note labeled 'OFFICE HOURS' next to a smartphone, with text announcing 'Child Care Licensing Regional Office Hours". The MiLEAP logo is in the bottom corner.
Join MiLEAP + Michigan Community Schools Coalition Sept 29–30 in Mount Pleasant to spotlight Michigan’s MiFamily Engagement Centers and 155 community schools driving family engagement statewide.
➡️ View the flyer: bit.ly/46yq4tL
➡️ Register now: bit.ly/46Dt8ok
ALT Flyer for the 2026 Michigan Community Schools & Family Engagement Conference. The event is on September 29-30, 2026, from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM in Mount Pleasant, MI. The flyer includes a photo of individuals at a playground, with one reaching for a book. It mentions that registration is open and provides a QR code for registration. Key details include the event's focus on educators, student support organizations, school administrators, and family success liaisons. Logos for MiFamily and MiLEAP are displayed.
Whether your kid is 5 or 15, back to school is easier on Michigan families this year.
Free breakfast and lunch for every student. Record per-pupil funding. A 12x increase in mental health support.
From free pre-K to money towards college, we've got them covered.
September is College Savings Month, and if you're a Michigan parent (or grandparent, aunt, uncle, or family friend), it's worth five minutes. Every dollar you put into MESP, Michigan's 529 plan, is a dollar working for a kid's future, and it comes with a state tax deduction.
ICYMI: Here in Michigan, EVERY kid gets free lunch at school 🍎
Today, I joined Sen. McCann at Woods Lake Elementary to help students fuel up for the day. Free school lunch ensures that kids can focus, teachers can teach, and that parents have more money in their pocket.