LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – The Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential (MiLEAP) is responding to what it says are false claims made by Rep. Jason Woolford (R-Howell) regarding a child care center in Macomb County.
Last week, Woolford said he and his staff visited 1st Premier Learning Academy & Daycare in Clinton Township. In a video, Woolford claimed he is investigating more than $1.12 million in Child Development and Care (CDC) program payments made between 2023 and 2026 to the facility. The video showed no one inside or outside the building, and Woolford said his staff was given the runaround when they called to inquire about available child care spots.
Is MiLEAP doing its job?
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Woolford specifically called out MiLEAP in the video, saying they “obviously aren’t doing their job in following up” on the tracking of legitimate and fraudulent taxpayer-funded payments.
After Woolford released the video, MiLEAP issued a statement saying, “The video and release falsely suggest that a child care facility, identified as 1st Premier Learning Academy and Daycare, has received over $1.12 million in CDC funding. The named facility is not a licensed child care provider in Michigan and has not received any CDC scholarship program funding.”
MiLEAP said it identified a pending child care license application from Kidz in Motion Early Learning Institute, located at 39781 Garfield Road in Clinton Township, submitted Jan. 12, 2026. The application remains under review. Woolford highlighted the discrepancy between the business name listed in state records and the name displayed on the building’s signage in his video.
“The Child Development and Care scholarship provides nearly 50,000 Michigan families access to safe, reliable and affordable child care,” said Dr. Beverly Walker-Griffea, director of MiLEAP. “We ensure every dollar invested is supporting children’s development, strengthening families and sustaining Michigan’s child care system. We take our responsibility to be good stewards of public funds seriously.”
The MiLEAP systems.
MiLEAP said suspected fraud can be reported to the Office of Inspector General by calling 855-MI-FRAUD (643-7283) or submitting a report online.
After MiLEAP released its statement, Woolford told MIRS News the department’s information is “confusing and inconsistent.” He said he plans to bring MiLEAP officials before his committee to discuss “transparency, accountability and public trust.”
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“This isn’t about any one provider—it’s about MiLEAP’s systems,” Woolford told MIRS. “When the department’s records and licensing information conflict, parents, taxpayers and lawmakers can’t have confidence in the information they’re receiving. This program distributes roughly $500 million each year, and the public deserves accurate, transparent records.”
