Local children meet Senator Jason Allen at the Star Power Rally in Lansing May 21. The rally emphasized the importance of early childhood educational services, and was attended by a local group from the intermediate school district's Great Start program. Standing in front of Senator Allen are (not listed in order) Payton Cheney, Nicole Cheney, Alicia Cheney, Carlie Keyser, Cass Gillhooley, Reese Savoie, Allie Gillhooley, and Bailey Savoie, all from the Eastern Upper Peninsula. (Photograph courtesy of Jessica Savoie) A group of 13 adults and 12 children traveled from the Eastern Upper Peninsula to Lansing May 21 to participate in the Early Childhood Investment Corporation Star Power Rally at the State Capitol. The local group was representing the intermediate school district's Great Start program of early childhood services. People attended from across Michigan to emphasize to lawmakers the importance of such programs.

More than five hundred families and early childhood supporters met with state representatives and senators. During the rally, Senator Jason Allen and Representative Gary McDowell both expressed support for investing in Michigan's youngest citizens and promised to do what they could in tough budget times, participants reported.

In Michigan, 17% of all kindergartners repeat kindergarten because they need two years of kindergarten to be prepared for first grade. The cost of re-educating children who were kindergartners in the fall of 2005 and again in the fall of 2006 was more than $100 million. Investing in strong early childhood programs which prepare children to be successful in one year of kindergarten could result in cost saving for taxpayers, according to Great Start.

More information about early childhood programs available in the E.U.P., such as local parenting support groups and children's literacy programs, is available online at www.eupkids.com, or from the E.U.P. Intermediate School District at (906) 632-3373.