Michigan, like all states, has a unique early childhood policy landscape that is shaped by economics, demographics, political history, coalitions, and other factors that create a state-specific environment for policy advocacy.
State early childhood policy progress is dependent both on the state’s environment and the numerous efforts—by the organizations listed on this page, other organizations, parents, policymakers, practitioners, and more—who work both independently and collaboratively to achieve wins for young children.
Research shows that family economic security is foundational to children’s overall wellbeing. Research also shows that widespread disparities in opportunity (especially by race) drive wide disparities in outcomes. States with policies that offer strong support to young children and their families are more likely to see 1) declining numbers of children in low-income households and 2) low racial disparity among those children.
Young Children in Low-Income Households: Declining
Approximately 40 percent (389,000) of the state’s children 0-8 live in households below 200 percent of the Federal Poverty Level (2022). This number represents a decrease from 45 percent (453,000) in 2017.1
Racial Disparity Among Young Children Living in Low-Income Households: High
Black, Hispanic/Latino, and/or Native children aged 0-8 are significantly more likely to be living in households below 200 percent of the Federal Poverty Level than are Asian and non-Hispanic White children.2
State General Fund Appropriations:3 Declining
In July of 2025, Michigan’s governor signed both the state’s general 2026 omnibus budget as well as the education budget. According to the House Fiscal Agency’s Appropriation Analysis and Summary, total adjusted gross appropriations are projected to be $74.63 billion (an 8.5 percent decrease from fiscal 2025), while adjusted General Fund/General Purpose appropriations are estimated at $14.11 billion in fiscal 2026 (a 5.1 percent decrease from fiscal 2025). Enacted school aid for fiscal 2026 is $21.29 billion, a 2.5 percent increase from fiscal 2025. Net General Fund/General Purpose revenue is estimated to be $15.11 billion in fiscal 2026 (a 4.3 percent increase from fiscal 2025), while School Aid Fund revenue is estimated at $18.93 billion (a 2.1 percent increase from fiscal 2025). The projected Budget Stabilization Fund year-end balance is $2.23 billion, an increase from $2.15 billion in fiscal 2025. Additionally, the budget assumes a General Fund/General Purpose ending fund balance of $237.1 million and a School Aid ending fund balance of $49.8 million.
Largest Per Capita Revenue Sources (after federal transfers):4
Michigan uses all major state and local taxes. Charges are public payments connected with a specific government service, such as tuition paid to a state university, payments to a public hospital, or highway tolls.
State Budget Rules:4
Michigan uses an annual budget. The legislature must pass a balanced budget, but it can carry a deficit over into the following year. Michigan also limits total authorized debt incurred by the state.
There is no permanent state funding stream—such as lottery revenue, nicotine tax, or trust fund distributions—dedicated by statute to early childhood supports. (Examples of other states with such funding in place can be found in the Alliance’s Revenue and Early Childhood Finance resource center.)
Political Alignment:6 Aligned
During the legislative session, the state’s Senate was Democrat controlled and the House was Republican controlled. The state’s Governor was a Democrat.
Types of Common Ballot Measures Available:7 Six
Early Childhood Policy Advocacy Organizations Include:
Early Childhood Policy Advocacy Multi-State Initiatives Include:8
Highlights from the state’s early childhood policy advocacy community include:9
The expansion of the RxKids cash prescription program is a huge win for families in Michigan who live furthest from opportunity. The initiative was fully funded with $20 million in TANF funding continued in the current fiscal year. An additional $250 million in general fund dollars is committed for the next three fiscal years to expand to additional communities. RxKids is a powerful example of a public-private partnership where state dollars along with allocation of federal TANF dollars are matched up with local and philanthropic investments. RxKids provides direct cash prescriptions—$1,500 during pregnancy and $500 per month for babies’ first 6 or 12 months (length of benefit depends on local/philanthropic commitment)—to all moms and babies within specific high need communities. The universal and hassle-free process has resulted in nearly 100-percent participation rates with families and also increases utilization of other early childhood services and supports they may be eligible to receive. Since its launch, RxKids has partnered with dozens of funders to deliver over $20 million in cash to more than 4,400 families across 20 Michigan communities, improving birth outcomes and healthcare utilization, reducing financial stress, strengthening local economies, and improving civic engagement and voter turnout.
The budget also includes:
Advocates also secured the needed funding to fully implement an important gain for pregnant/postpartum individuals from last legislative session. Public Acts 244 and 245 of 2024 (HBs 5167 and 5168) require Medicaid and private insurance coverage for any pregnant/postpartum enrollees to receive a home blood pressure monitor. The new laws took effect on April 2, 2025. Regulations were issued for private insurers through the Department of Insurance and Financial Services but the Medicaid agency, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services delayed issuing guidance over concerns about lack of funding for the new benefit. Advocates were able to secure $800,000 in the FY 26 state budget and MDHHS has now issued Bulletin MMP 25-48 Revisions to Blood Pressure Monitoring Policy that will go into effect December 1.
Michigan advocates also scored a defensive win after the House budget proposal eliminated funding for the Michigan School Meals Program, which provides universal breakfast and lunch to pre-k-to-12 students throughout the state. The Michigan School Meals Coalition pressured lawmakers to maintain this funding in the budget, making the case that school meals were especially important following the largest SNAP cuts on record.
The Alliance’s lead allies in Michigan are the Michigan Council for Maternal and Child Health (MCMCH) and the Michigan League for Public Policy. Established in 1983, MCMCH has a diverse membership comprised of large hospital systems, statewide organizations, local public health advocates and individuals with an interest in the advancement of maternal and child health. MCMCH uses a collective voice to advocate for access to care, prevention programs and adequate funding/reimbursement for providers, and educates policymakers on ways to improve maternal and child health outcomes while addressing Michigan’s high rates of Black maternal and infant mortality. The Michigan League for Public Policy has been working since 1912 to lift up Michiganders who have traditionally been left out of prosperity. MLPP uses data to educate, advocate and fight for policy solutions that undo historic and systemic racial and economic inequities by targeting issues like healthcare, housing, education, child care, and more.
Michigan Council for Maternal and Child Health and the Michigan League for Public Policy are working to advance early childhood policies in several areas that align with the Alliance’s birth-through-eight policy framework:
Child Care
Maternal Health
Infant & Child Health
Early Intervention (Age 0-3)
Home Visiting
Paid Family and Medical Leave
Early Childhood Finance and Cost Modeling
Early Childhood Governance
Click here for more information on advocates’ policy agenda.
Rx Kids, the nation’s first citywide cash assistance program for families, started in Flint and is spreading across Michigan. Proponents across the political spectrum agree the program gives parents choices, builds trust, reduces stigma, and eliminates administrative barriers.
NOTES:
1 Kids Count Data Center, Annie E. Casey Foundation, Children Ages 0 to 8 Below 200 Percent Poverty, January, 2024.
2 National Center for Children in Poverty, Children Ages 0 through 8 Below 200 Percent Poverty, October 2024, NCCP analysis of ACS 5-Year Estimates – Public Use Microdata Sample 2018-2022.
3 National Association of State Budget Officers, Proposed and Enacted Budgets, FY 2026.
4 Urban Institute, State Fiscal Briefs, April 2025.
5 Alliance for Early Success, State Examples of Dedicated Funding Streams, 2025
6 National Conference of State Legislatures, 2025 State & Legislative Partisan Composition, January 31, 2025.
7 Ballotpedia, Ballot Measures by State, Kids Count Data Center, 2025.
8 Alliance for Early Success, Multi-State Initiatives for Early Childhood Policy Advocacy, July, 2024.
9 Alliance for Early Success, State-Wide Advocacy Highlights Survey, April-October, 2025.
