The state senate has eliminated funding for many early childhood programs for next year's budget. This will affect a significant number of families in the Eastern U.P.

• prevent 148 four year olds from attending preschool by eliminating the Great Start Readiness Program (GSRP).
• cut the equivalent of 33 full time jobs from early childhood programs.
• cut the support for 30 families receiving Secondary Prevention services.
• reduce child-care support for low-income working families.
• eliminate education and support for families through the Great Parents/Great Start and Infants & Toddlers Off To A Good Start (Secondary Prevention) programs.

1. More than 10,000 MI children suffered from neglect in ‘06. Don’t let them fall through the cracks! Restore 0-3 Secondary Prevention Funding!
2. Children’s physical & mental health should never be on the table when balancing the budget.
3. Lawmakers have tough choices to make—but kids futures are never one! Keep early childhood education programs.
4. 91% of voters think it’s important to ensure kids arrive at Kindergarten ready to learn.
5. For every dollar invested in early childhood, there’s $17 returned in jobs, health care & reduced crime.  No other investment has so high a return, and so rich a reward.
6. Poverty afflicts 1 in 5 children in our state. In a time of such extreme need and scarcity of resources, why are lawmakers trying to cut  the last of their chances at a Great Start in life?
7. Michiganranks 27th among states for funding 0-5 programs. Now lawmakers want to make cuts and drop us ever further. Tell them to give our children every advantage!
8. The smartest investment in Michigan is in hope for the future-- A highly educated workforce begins with early childhood investment. Don’t stop Great Start! 
9. In a recent poll, 75% of Michigan voters said it is personally important to them to protect early childhood development and education from funding cuts.
10. 95% of voters in Michigan think that the years 0 to 5 are important to learning and growth and development for young children. Voters know what’s important—our children.