Michigan’s Early Childhood
Early childhood intervention personnel assess children from Birth to Age 5 for developmental delays or disabilities that may cause them to fall behind in certain areas of life. This career has two paths, Early Intervention Provider (Birth to Age 3) and Early Childhood Special Education Teacher (Age 3 to 5). They plan strategies that help children learn and grow in areas where they have developmental delays or where they are struggling.
They focus on a child’s developmental delays that include:
- Physical and motor development skills.
- Cognitive skills.
- Communication skills.
- Social and emotional skills.
- Adaptive skills.
Early Intervention Provider
Birth to Age 3 - Works in the Home with Family
Early Intervention Provider
The Early Intervention Provider works directly with families to support their child’s development and participation in everyday routines and activities. During family visits, the Provider coaches and collaborates with parents and caregivers to help them gain confidence and skills to support their child’s growth and learning in the context of daily life.
Early On Michigan
Early On Michigan is the system of early intervention services for infants and toddlers with disabilities and/or delays, from birth to age three, and their families. Early On services are provided by early intervention providers and designed to support both the child and the child’s family. Services are provided in the child’s natural environment (family’s home, child care, or community settings) through a family-centered approach and supported by an Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP). This means that services are designed to support both the child and family based on their unique strengths and needs.
Early On service providers support children in the following developmental areas:
- Physical (reaching, rolling, crawling, and walking)
- Cognitive (thinking, learning, solving problems)
- Communication (talking, listening, understanding, gesturing)
- Social-emotional (feeling secure, able to calm, playing with others)
- Self-help (eating, dressing)
Early Intervention Provider Careers:
Associations to Support You:
Early Intervention Provider Opportunities
The field of early intervention offers a broad array of career opportunities, including but not limited to:
- Service Coordinators
- Early Childhood Special Education Teachers
- Speech-Language Pathologists
- Physical Therapists
- Physical Therapy Assistant
- Occupational Therapists
- Occupational Therapy Assistant
- Social Workers
Job Shadow an Early Intervention Provider
Interested in learning more about a career in Early Intervention? Consider job shadowing an Early Intervention Provider for a day!
To participate, contact the Early On Coordinator at your local Intermediate School District (ISD). Each ISD may have its own process and policy for job shadowing, so it’s important to connect directly with them to learn more about available opportunities.
Early Childhood Special Education Teacher
Age 3 to 5 - Works with Children in the Classroom
Early Childhood Special Education Teacher
An Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE) Teacher is dedicated to supporting young children with disabilities. They create individualized learning plans, adapt the curriculum, and collaborate with families and other professionals. ECSE Teachers can work in various settings, such as preschools, daycare centers, or even the child’s home. Their primary goal is to promote the child’s development in areas such as academics, social skills, and daily living skills.
Great Start Readiness Program
The Great Start Readiness Program (GSRP) is Michigan’s free PreK program for eligible four-year-olds. Ranked #1 in the U.S., it’s a safe place where children learn how to get along with others, share, take turns, and make friends. Math, reading, and thinking skills are taught every day through fun, hands-on activities. GSRP will help make sure children are ready for kindergarten and beyond.
Head Start Program
The Head Start preschool program was created to give children, aged three to five years old, a free early learning program that prepares them to be ready to succeed in school and later in life. Teaching takes place in a classroom within your community.
Head Start Information:
Start Your Michigan Early Childhood Special Education Teacher Journey
To join this amazing group of early intervention provider you need:
Step 1: Earn a bachelor’s degree in any of the following:
- Early childhood education.
- Special education child development.
- Or similar.
Step 2: Obtain at least 480 hours of supervised experience in an early childhood setting. This can be obtained through internships, practicums, or employment in a licensed child care center or preschool.
Associations to Support You:
ECSE Teacher Opportunities
- Preschool Special Education Teacher
- Educational Consultant
- Paraeducator
- Teacher’s Aide
Job Shadow an Early Childhood Special Education Teacher
To participate in a job shadow, reach out to a school district and request to job shadow a Early Intervention Provider for a day.
Each school district has their own policy when it comes to job shadowing, but you may need a state ID or a driver’s license to participate.
College Program Information
Click a point on the map to find degree programs, scholarships, grants, and organizations to join!
- Programs Includes Both EIP and ECSE
- Programs Includes ECSE Only
Michigan’s Early Childhood Funding
Free College Opportunities
Dual Enrollment
Allows students to earn college credit (up to 10 courses) while in high school at no cost between 9th-12th grade. The classes that students are eligible for must not be offered by the high school or PSA and must lead towards postsecondary credit, accreditation, certification, and/or licensing.
How to apply – Students are to talk with their high school advisor on eligibility, application, deadlines, and college course options.
A Michigan Department of Education approved five-year program of study.
EMCs work closely with certain colleges to provide students with an opportunity earn a high school diploma and one or more of the following:
- 60 transferable college credits.
- An associate degree.
- A professional certification.
- The Michigan Early Middle College Association (MEMCA) technical certificate.
- Participation in a registered apprenticeship.
The Michigan Achievement Scholarship is designed to help students pursue their dreams, goals, and aspirations in the Mitten State! Graduating high school seniors are eligible to earn a skill certificate or degree at their local community college tuition-free just by filling out the new and simplified FAFSA.
State Scholarships & Grants
Talent Together helps you become a certified teacher. The program also helps elevate the professional credentials of existing teachers with “add-on endorsements” and mentorship training to be a lead with “teacher apprentices” at the school district.”
Michigan Reconnect is a scholarship program that pays you to attend your in-district community college tuition free or pays up to the in-district rate if you attend a community college where you’re considered out-of-district. Applicants must be 25 years old to apply.
Thirteen Promise Zones have already begun awarding scholarships. Educators, businesses, families and civic leaders are also striving to embed a pervasive culture of learning in these communities – an essential ingredient in any recipe for education success.
Amount: $10,000
Amount: $9,600 Stipend
Amount: $2,000 – $5,500
Federal Scholarships & Grants
Colleges and career schools use the FAFSA form to determine how much financial aid you’re eligible to receive, which could include grants, scholarships, work-study funds, and loans.You must apply for aid every year.
The Federal Student Aid Estimator provides an estimate of how much federal student aid the student may be eligible to receive. These estimates are based on the Student Aid Index (SAI), an index to determine federal student aid eligibility.
Direct Subsidized Loans and Direct Unsubsidized Loans are federal student loans offered by the U.S. Department of Education (ED) to help eligible students cover the cost of higher education at a four-year college or university, community college, or trade, career, or technical school.
A federal grant for undergraduate students with financial need.
Direct PLUS loans can help pay for education expenses not covered by other financial aid. The U.S. Department of Education makes Direct PLUS Loans to eligible graduate or professional students through schools participating in the Direct Loan Program.
Amount: up to $4,000/year
Amount: up to $17,500
If you’re employed by a government or not-for-profit organization, you might be eligible for the PSLF Program. The PSLF Program forgives the remaining balance on your Direct Loans
*Borrowers can’t receive credit toward TLF and Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) for the same period of service. That means, if you seek and receive TLF, the five-year period of service that supported your eligibility will NOT count toward PSLF. We recommend that you consider whether you’re interested in PSLF before deciding to pursue TLF, because we can’t make changes once you receive forgiveness.
Amount: $2,500
More early childhood leaders and practitioners with the requisite skills and knowledge are required to meet the needs of children aged birth – 5 years old. As a 5-year sub-awardee, AACTE will be directly addressing this issue, in part, by providing targeted mentorship, professional development, and financial support to doctoral students of color pursuing a Ph.D. or an Ed.D. in early childhood and early childhood special education. AACTE will recruit a cohort of twelve Holmes Scholars pursuing doctorates in early childhood and early childhood special education.
Grant for undergraduate students with exceptional financial need, administered directly by financial aid office at each participating school, not all schools participate
part-time employment while enrolled in school, available to undergrad, grad, and professional students with financial need, available to full and part-time students, administered by participating schools, emphasizes employment in civic education and work related to course of study or civic education, on or off campus
Michigan’s Early Childhood Funding
Free College Opportunities
Dual Enrollment
Allows students to earn college credit (up to 10 courses) while in high school at no cost between 9th-12th grade. The classes that students are eligible for must not be offered by the high school or PSA and must lead towards postsecondary credit, accreditation, certification, and/or licensing.
How to apply – Students are to talk with their high school advisor on eligibility, application, deadlines, and college course options.
A Michigan Department of Education approved five-year program of study.
EMCs work closely with certain colleges to provide students with an opportunity earn a high school diploma and one or more of the following:
- 60 transferable college credits.
- An associate degree.
- A professional certification.
- The Michigan Early Middle College Association (MEMCA) technical certificate.
- Participation in a registered apprenticeship.
The Michigan Achievement Scholarship is designed to help students pursue their dreams, goals, and aspirations in the Mitten State! Graduating high school seniors are eligible to earn a skill certificate or degree at their local community college tuition-free just by filling out the new and simplified FAFSA.
State Scholarships & Grants
Talent Together helps you become a certified teacher. The program also helps elevate the professional credentials of existing teachers with “add-on endorsements” and mentorship training to be a lead with “teacher apprentices” at the school district.”
Michigan Reconnect is a scholarship program that pays you to attend your in-district community college tuition free or pays up to the in-district rate if you attend a community college where you’re considered out-of-district. Applicants must be 25 years old to apply.
Thirteen Promise Zones have already begun awarding scholarships. Educators, businesses, families and civic leaders are also striving to embed a pervasive culture of learning in these communities – an essential ingredient in any recipe for education success.
Amount: $10,000
Amount: $9,600 Stipend
Amount: $2,000 – $5,500
Federal Scholarships & Grants
Colleges and career schools use the FAFSA form to determine how much financial aid you’re eligible to receive, which could include grants, scholarships, work-study funds, and loans.You must apply for aid every year.
The Federal Student Aid Estimator provides an estimate of how much federal student aid the student may be eligible to receive. These estimates are based on the Student Aid Index (SAI), an index to determine federal student aid eligibility.
Direct Subsidized Loans and Direct Unsubsidized Loans are federal student loans offered by the U.S. Department of Education (ED) to help eligible students cover the cost of higher education at a four-year college or university, community college, or trade, career, or technical school.
A federal grant for undergraduate students with financial need.
Direct PLUS loans can help pay for education expenses not covered by other financial aid. The U.S. Department of Education makes Direct PLUS Loans to eligible graduate or professional students through schools participating in the Direct Loan Program.
Amount: up to $4,000/year
Amount: up to $17,500
If you’re employed by a government or not-for-profit organization, you might be eligible for the PSLF Program. The PSLF Program forgives the remaining balance on your Direct Loans
*Borrowers can’t receive credit toward TLF and Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) for the same period of service. That means, if you seek and receive TLF, the five-year period of service that supported your eligibility will NOT count toward PSLF. We recommend that you consider whether you’re interested in PSLF before deciding to pursue TLF, because we can’t make changes once you receive forgiveness.
Amount: $2,500
More early childhood leaders and practitioners with the requisite skills and knowledge are required to meet the needs of children aged birth – 5 years old. As a 5-year sub-awardee, AACTE will be directly addressing this issue, in part, by providing targeted mentorship, professional development, and financial support to doctoral students of color pursuing a Ph.D. or an Ed.D. in early childhood and early childhood special education. AACTE will recruit a cohort of twelve Holmes Scholars pursuing doctorates in early childhood and early childhood special education.
Grant for undergraduate students with exceptional financial need, administered directly by financial aid office at each participating school, not all schools participate
part-time employment while enrolled in school, available to undergrad, grad, and professional students with financial need, available to full and part-time students, administered by participating schools, emphasizes employment in civic education and work related to course of study or civic education, on or off campus
Early Childhood Story Tellers
Below are videos highlighting Early Childhood throughout Michigan.
Find out why they love the profession.