Speaking for Kids, the podcast from Michigan’s Children Michigan's Children

Michigan's Children Speaking for Kids podcast host Matt Gillard welcomes Schools Superintendent John M. Searles, head of the Midland County Educational Service Agency, to discuss the expansion of Pre-K for All. In a wide-ranging conversation, they discuss the expansion in light of a contentious House budget plan that would negatively impact funding to community-based child care providers in favor of those operated by intermediate school districts. Listen in to this timely conversation around the Governor's plans for universal Pre-K.

Join Matt Gillard, President and CEO of Michigan's Children, as he engages in a candid conversation with Jeff Cobb, Director of Government Affairs at Education Trust-Midwest, on the pressing need for equity in education funding. Delving into the Opportunity Index—a proposed funding formula inspired by successful models like Massachusetts—the discussion highlights the importance of prioritizing resources for districts serving low socioeconomic backgrounds and minority students.Gillard and Cobb advocate for increased investment in education, stressing the long-term benefits and cost savings associated with improving educational outcomes. They draw parallels between Michigan and Massachusetts' academic success, emphasizing the need for strategic investments to narrow the gap. Despite recent progress, they call for continued efforts to fully fund the Opportunity Index and double funding for English learners, setting Michigan on a path toward greater opportunity and prosperity for all.

Michigan’s Children’s Matt Gillard sits down with Jeff Capizzano, President of the Policy Equity Group, to talk frankly about Governor Whitmer’s “PreK for All” plan now that expanding free 4-year-old preschool is moving closer to becoming reality with major state funding outlined in Whitmer’s proposed FY2025 budget recommendations. They discuss the plan’s “roadmap” for quickly expanding the state-funded preschool program at no cost to families, regardless of household income, while guarding against negatively impacting enrollment counts of private-pay, community-based child care providers. 
Capizzano, whose Washington, D.C. firm was hired by the Governor's office to work on an implementation strategy, said the final recommendations represent a comprehensive strategy to better compensate early childhood educators, support the varied needs of families, and maintain viable privately owned child care businesses. He warned against “cherry picking” certain recommendations over others.

To debrief Governor Whitmer’s 2024 State of the State address,
Michigan’s Children’s Speaking for Kids Podcast Host Matt Gillard
welcomes back two veteran Lansing lobbyists who have spent their careers
working on children’s issues in Michigan. Specifically, they look at what she
plans to champion on behalf of kids & families in the second year of her
second term in office. Listen in and learn how you can raise your voice for
the issues you care about. Returning guests are Andrea M. Cascarilla,
Government Policy Advisor, Dykema; and Matt Kurta, Partner, Karoub
Associates.

In the December episode of Speaking for Kids, the Podcast, Michigan’s Children’s host Matt Gillard welcomes Gongwer News Service Managing Editor Alethia Kasben to talk about the accomplishments and shortcomings of the Michigan Legislature’s 2023 legislative year. Among big investments for kids and families were greater family tax relief through the expanded earned income tax credit, the adoption of free school meals, expanded free PreK for 4 year olds, and $50 million for afterschool programming. Also discussed were a few key issues that didn’t make it to the finish line, including paid family and medical leave. Listen or watch it today.

Michigan’s Children President & CEO Matt Gillard welcomes state Rep. Jasper Martus to the Speaking for Kids podcast to discuss efforts to advance making paid family medical leave mandatory in Michigan. The Genesee County Democrat is a point person in the House on the issue and has introduced a measure calling for an actuarial cost study to keep the issue moving forward into the new Legislative year. Lawmakers are expected to finish the current session next week without action on the promising bill hailed by family advocates including Michigan’s Children and favored by Governor Gretchen Whitmer.