GREAT START COLLABORATIVE GRANTS

House Bill 5628

Sponsor:  Rep. David Rutledge

Committee:  Education

Complete to 6-6-12

A SUMMARY OF HOUSE BILL 5628 AS INTRODUCED 5-15-12

 

House Bill 5628 would amend the State School Aid Act (MCL 388.1632b) to modify the reporting requirement for Great Start Collaborative grants, requiring that the annual report be filed by the Early Childhood Investment Corporation, rather than the Department of Education. 

FISCAL IMPACT:

Section 32b of the State School Aid Act provides grants to the 54 Great Start Collaboratives (GSCs) in the state.  Intermediate school districts are charged with convening local GSCs, comprising representatives of the public sector, philanthropic organizations, local businesses, parents, and other community leaders who work to improve school readiness of area children.  Each GSC is charged with overseeing the planning, implementation, and ongoing improvement of a local infrastructure designed to support a comprehensive early childhood education system.  Grants are awarded and administered by the Early Childhood Investment Corporation.  The FY 2011-12 School Aid budget allocated $5.9 million in funding for the GSCs.  In addition to the School Aid appropriation, GSCs are also awarded grants funded through the ECIC's contract with the MDE Office of Great Start for child development and care quality initiatives funded through the state's allocation of federal Child Care and Development Fund monies. 

For FY 2012-13, however, funding for the GSCs through the School Aid budget is rolled into a new early childhood education block grant to intermediate school districts (along with funding previously appropriated for the Great Parents Great Start program).   Section 32b (the section amended here) is repealed effective October 1, 2012.  A similar reporting requirement for the ECIC's activities in FY 2011 and FY 2012 is now required under Sec. 1003 of the FY 2012-13 Department of Education budget.  That report is due on February 15, 2013. 

                                                                                           Legislative Analyst:   J. Hunault

                                                                                                  Fiscal Analyst:   Bethany Wicksall

                                                                                                                           Mark Wolf

■ This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House staff for use by House members in their deliberations, and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.