Changes coming to Michigan's early childhood education programs

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Credit Arundo / MorgueFile

Is infancy too early to start preparing your child for a career or college?

Not according to the Michigan Department of Education.

Lindy Buch is with the MDE's Office of Great Start.

She says suggested new learning standards will soon be posted on its Web site  for the state's infant, toddler and pre-kindergarten programs.

"These are expectations that we would have for all children in the state. We need people to look at them, read them, and tell us if we're doing it right, or if there are things that are inappropriate that we've made a mistake about," Buch says.

She says technology already plays a significant role in early childhood education.

"Things change, and we need to make sure that our expectations for children, as well as the standards for the programs they go to and the people who work with them are up to date," Buch says.

But she says the updated programs will also focus on making sure children are healthy, socially and developmentally ready for kindergarten, and able to read well by the third grade.