Michigan is piloting no-cost pre-K for home-based child care providers to expand access beyond traditional schools and centers. This page answers common questions families, providers, and policymakers have about how the MiLEAP pilot operates, what it means for quality and oversight, and whether the model could scale nationally.
The MiLEAP pilot uses a $1.5 million federal grant to fund no-cost pre-K opportunities for home-based providers. It provides coaching, curriculum, materials, and assessments to eligible home-based programs, aiming to serve around 75–80 four-year-olds in the spring and summer, with potential extension into the next school year. Families gain access to no-cost pre-K outside traditional classrooms, expanding options beyond schools and centers.
Advocates say the pilot could broaden access to high-quality early education and keep options flexible for families who rely on home-based care. Critics raise questions about maintaining consistent quality and ensuring proper oversight across home-based sites. The program includes coaching and assessments to monitor progress, with ongoing evaluation to determine if outcomes meet state-wide pre-K goals.
Scaling would require sustained funding beyond a single grant, plus a clear framework for quality standards, provider training, and oversight across varied settings. The Michigan approach uses targeted coaching and materials to support home-based providers; nationwide expansion would need structural policy support, reliable funding streams, and standardized measurement to ensure consistency across states.
Families should verify that a home-based program is part of the pilot, understand what no-cost access covers (tuition, materials, coaching), and ask about curriculum, teacher qualifications, and assessment practices. It’s also wise to inquire about how the program aligns with state pre-K goals, schedules, and whether it fits their child’s learning style and family routines.
Traditional pre-K options often occur in schools, centers, or churches. The Michigan pilot specifically tests home-based settings as eligible sites, offering similar supports (curriculum, coaching, materials) while delivering services in a family’s home or a home-based environment, aiming to expand access without compromising core learning objectives.
The pilot is funded by a $1.5 million federal grant, supporting coaching, materials, and assessments. Sustainability beyond the grant would depend on future state funding, policy decisions, and the outcome of the pilot’s effectiveness. Stakeholders will watch gathered data to decide on long-term investments in no-cost pre-K for home-based providers.
Lori Leggert's child-care center in Michigan is part of a new pilot program offering no-cost pre-K in home-based settings