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States lack quality and access for students of color

High-quality early childhood education (ECE) is important to the rapid development that happens in the first five years of a child’s life and has long-lasting benefits well into adulthood. But many children, largely Black and Latino, are not given access to nor are being served by high-quality, state-funded ECE programs, according to a first-of-its-kind analysis by The Education Trust. The report examines the accessibility and quality of state-funded preschool programs for 3- and 4-year-old Black and Latino children during the 2017-2018 school year and finds that, out of the states analyzed, no state provides both high-quality and high-access ECE for these children.

Percentage of State Population of Black 3- and 4-Year Olds by Number of NIEER Quality Benchmarks Met

Although Michigan’s early childhood expansion has improved access to quality programs, high-quality early childhood programs are still reaching far too few children. Click here for recommendations for improving access and an online data tool for exploring state access and quality.

Education in Michigan on American Black Journal

Amber Arellano joins American Black Journal to discuss education in Michigan

The Education Trust-Midwest’s Amber Arellano joined Stephen Henderson and American Black Journal last week to talk about the state of education in Michigan and how African American students are faring academically.

Capital Update

MICHIGAN STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION will meet today, November 12, at 9:30 a.m. in the Dombrowski Board Room in the Hannah Building. The agenda includes an update on accountability systems and continued discussion of early college programs and career technical education.

SENATE EDUCATION & CAREER READINESS will meet today, November 12, at noon in room 1300 of the Binsfeld Office Building. Agenda: Senate Bills 600601 (Bumstead, R), making changes to high school graduation requirements under the Michigan Merit Curriculum. The Education Trust-Midwest intends to testify against these bills, which would eliminate critical courses for postsecondary preparation from high school graduation requirements. Read our written testimony here.

Tweet of the Week

@bterrylong: The opportunity gap for minority students begins in early education, according to a new report from @EdTrust . It is critical for #earlyed to be equitable, to provide a high quality foundation for students of all races and incomes: https://bit.ly/2JSFIGj @educationweek