FACT SHEET

  • There are 46,000 children in Kent County under the age of 5. (2005 U.S. Census Data)
  • Nearly 20% live in poverty; 32% rely on Medicaid; 62% have both parents in the work force; 21% are born to a mother with less than a 12th grade education. (2000 and 2005 U.S. Census Data and Michigan Department of Community Health)
  • The brain is not fully developed at birth, and brains are built over time. The first few years are critical-children learn more during the first three years of life than during any other three-year period. (National Scientific Council on the Developing Child)
  • Prolonged and persistent stress-which can come from family tension or financial hardship-harms the architecture of the brain, jeopardizing a child’s future success. (National Scientific Council on the Developing Child)
  • A recent study by the RAND Corporation found early childhood programs lead to significant economic returns to the community-anywhere from $1.26 to $17.07 for every $1 invested. (RAND Corporation)
  • The return on investment comes from a reduced need for welfare, prison, special education, and job training. In addition high-quality early education programs often lead to higher wage earnings in adulthood. (Numerous studies including the National Institute for Early Childhood Education Research, Nurse Family Partnership, High/Scope Perry Preschool Project)
  • More than 85,000 Michigan children do not have a spot in licensed child care. The shortage is most severe for infants, children with special needs and those who need evening and weekend care. (Early Childhood Investment Corporation)
  • The average cost of full-time care in Michigan is $6,616 a year for a 4-year-old child. It is $7,916 for an infant-more than the average tuition and fees of a public college or university. (Early Childhood Investment Corporation)
  • Infant care is 11% of the median income for two-parent families; 37% for single parents. (Early Childhood Investment Corporation)
  • 14% of Kent County students have to repeat a second year of kindergarten. (Kent Intermediate School District based on 5-year average)
  • More than one quarter of children entering kindergarten in Kent County are unable to recognize at least half the letters of the alphabet or identify rhyming words, skills fundamental to early literacy. (Kindergarten Assessment funded by Early Childhood Children’s Commission)
  • Publicly insured children in Michigan are twice as likely to be admitted to the hospital as privately insured. (”Insurance-associated Disparities in Hospitalization Outcomes of Michigan’s Children,” Kent County research study pending publication)
  • A study commissioned by Kent County’s Early Childhood Children’s Commission found Michigan would save hundreds of millions of dollars if children on Medicaid have the same hospitalization rate and emergency room usage as children who are privately insured. (”Insurance-associated Disparities in Hospitalization Outcomes of Michigan’s Children,” Kent County research study pending publication)
  • The early education industry in Michigan generates 45,000 jobs and pumps $1 billion into the state economy. (Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Growth)
  • The early education industry is expected to grow 12.2 percent between 2004 and 2014, more than the 7.7 percent growth projected for the total state workforce. (Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Growth)
  • The early education industry in the Grand Rapids area generates 3,800 jobs and $103 million annually. (Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Growth)