— LEAGUE RECOMMENDATION —
Invest $19.6 million in state funding in Early On, the state’s early intervention program that helps identify and serve very young children with developmental delays and their families.
BACKGROUND: The federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Part C program was created in 1986 to help states identify and serve very young children with developmental delays and disabilities, with the goal of ensuring children’s optimal development and reducing the need for special education. Michigan’s program, Early On, receives federal funding to help identify children with delays. However, because Michigan is the only state that does not provide a statewide budget allocation for early intervention, the services the state is able to provide are not sufficient to meet the need.
- A 2013 audit of Early On concluded that children in the program did not have access to a comprehensive range of early intervention services delivered by qualified personnel. The state’s response to the audit was, and continues to be, that it would seek state funding for Early On—a goal that has not yet been realized.
- To be eligible for Early On, children from birth to age 3 must either: 1) have a developmental delay at least 20% below the mean; or 2) have one of the established medical conditions likely to lead to delays. Early On identifies delays in many areas, including cognitive, language, physical and social-emotional.
- Disparities exist in access to early childhood programs and services. Children who grow up in poverty are more likely to experience developmental delays and these outcomes are compounded by race/ethnicity. Children of color receiving Early On services are more likely to be economically disadvantaged. A lack of state funding prevents all eligible children from participating in Early On; increased funding would help to reduce existing disparities.
- The Special Education Funding Subcommittee chaired by Lt. Gov. Brian Calley recently identified state funding for Early On as the foundation for establishing financial stability for Michigan’s special education system. The subcommittee’s report pointed to peer states’ investments in early intervention, ranging from $58 million in Minnesota to $126 million in Pennsylvania.
WHY IT MATTERS:
- Brain scientists have demonstrated the importance of early intervention. Scientists have shown that as much as 90% of the architecture of the brain is built in the first 1,000 days of a child’s life—affecting his or her development for years to come.
- Children whose delays are identified and remediated early in life are more likely to succeed in school. The National Early Intervention Longitudinal Study found that 56% of children receiving early intervention services functioned in the average or above average range for academic skills when they entered kindergarten.
- Early intervention services for infants and toddlers could reduce the need for special education services. The same study found that 42% of children who participated in early intervention did not need special education services in later years.
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Emily Jorgensen joined the Michigan League for Public Policy in July 2019. She deeply cares about the well-being of individuals and families and has a great love for Michigan. She is grateful that her position at the League enables her to combine these passions and work to help promote policies that will lead to better opportunities and security for all Michiganders.
Jacob Kaplan 
Mikell Frey is a communications professional with a passion for using the art of storytelling to positively impact lives. She strongly believes that positive social change can be inspired by the sharing of data-driven information coupled with the unique perspectives of people from all walks of life across Michigan, especially those who have faced extraordinary barriers. 
Rachel Richards rejoined the League in December 2020 as the Fiscal Policy Director working on state budget and tax policies. Prior to returning to the League, she served as the Director of Legislative Affairs for the Michigan Department of Treasury, the tax policy analyst and Legislative Director for the Michigan League for Public Policy, and a policy analyst and the Appropriations Coordinator for the Democratic Caucus of the Michigan House of Representatives. She brings with her over a decade of experience in policies focused on economic opportunity, including workforce issues, tax, and state budget.
Donald Stuckey 
Patrick Schaefer
Alexandra Stamm 
Amari Fuller
Renell Weathers, Michigan League for Public Policy (MLPP) Community Engagement Consultant. As community engagement consultant, Renell works with organizations throughout the state in connecting the impact of budget and tax policies to their communities. She is motivated by the belief that all children and adults deserve the opportunity to achieve their dreams regardless of race, ethnicity, religion or economic class.
Megan Farnsworth joined the League’s staff in December 2022 as Executive Assistant. Megan is driven by work that is personally fulfilling, and feels honored to help support the work of an organization that pushes for more robust programming and opportunities for the residents of our state. She’s excited and motivated to gain overarching knowledge of the policies and agendas that the League supports.
Yona Isaacs (she/hers) is an Early Childhood Data Analyst for the Kids Count project. After earning her Bachelor of Science in Biopsychology, Cognition, and Neuroscience at the University of Michigan, she began her career as a research coordinator in pediatric psychiatry using data to understand the impacts of brain activity and genetics on children’s behavior and mental health symptoms. This work prompted an interest in exploring social determinants of health and the role of policy in promoting equitable opportunities for all children, families, and communities. She returned to the University of Michigan to complete her Masters in Social Work focused on Social Policy and Evaluation, during which she interned with the ACLU of Michigan’s policy and legislative team and assisted local nonprofit organizations in creating data and evaluation metrics. She currently serves as a coordinator for the Michigan Center for Youth Justice on a project aiming to increase placement options and enhance cultural competency within the juvenile justice system for LGBTQIA+ youth. Yona is eager to put her data skills to work at the League in support of data-driven policies that advocate for equitable access to healthcare, education, economic security, and opportunity for 0-5 year old children. In her free time, she enjoys tackling DIY house projects and trying new outdoor activities with her dog.
Amber Bellazaire joined the Michigan League for Public Policy as a policy analyst in June of 2019. Her work primarily focuses on state policy and budgets affecting Michigan’s Medicaid programs. Previously, Amber worked at the National Conference of State Legislatures tracking legislation and research related to injury and violence prevention, adolescent health, and maternal and child health. She also brings with her two years of Americorps service. As a full time volunteer, Amber had the opportunity to tutor high school students in Chelsea, Massachusetts and address issues of healthcare access and food insecurity through in-person outreach in Seattle, Washington.
Simon Marshall-Shah joined the Michigan League for Public Policy as a State Policy Fellow in August 2019. His work focuses on state policy as it relates to the budget, immigration, health care and other League policy priorities. Before joining the League, he worked in Washington, D.C. at the Association for Community Affiliated Plans (ACAP), providing federal policy and advocacy support to nonprofit, Medicaid health plans (Safety Net Health Plans) related to the ACA Marketplaces as well as Quality & Operations.
