LANSING, Mich. – Updated and revised licensing rules for Michigan’s home-based child care educators are now finalized, strengthening health and safety standards while making it easier for providers to operate and expand care for families across the state.
The updated Child Care Home Licensing Rules establish clear standards for how home-based educators care for children, covering everything from staffing and supervision to health, safety, and daily operations. The administrative rules were filed with the Office of the Great Seal for the Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential (MiLEAP). The rules apply to both family and group child care homes and are designed to support children, families, and educators. Adopted on April 27, 2026, educators will have at least 90 days to come into compliance.
“Home-based early educators are a critical part of Michigan’s child care system, especially in rural and underserved communities,” said Dr. Beverly Walker-Griffea, director of MiLEAP. “These updates strengthen safety and quality standards while making the rules clearer and more workable, so educators can focus on what matters most, caring for children.”
The revised rules reflect extensive input from early educators, including feedback from more than 600 home-based educators through listening sessions and surveys, as well as engagement with community and state partners. The updates also align Michigan’s standards with federal requirements and national best practices.
These updates also support broader statewide efforts to strengthen early learning, including Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s Every Child Reads initiative, which focuses on building strong early literacy skills so children can read proficiently and succeed in school. High-quality early learning environments, like those supported through these updated licensing rules, play a key role in helping young children develop the language, reading, and social skills they need for long-term success.
The updated rules will:
Strengthen Health and Safety
The revisions clarify and reinforce core health and safety requirements to better protect children in care. Updates include regulations for food allergy plans, clearer expectations for hygiene and illness response, and enhanced guidance for emergency preparedness. Fire safety and transportation standards have also been updated.
Support Educators and Reduce Burden
The changes streamline and simplify licensing requirements, removing duplication and making expectations easier to understand and follow. Training requirements have been revised, and educators will use the MiRegistry system to track and verify professional development. The updates also eliminate outdated requirements, such as tuberculosis (TB) testing for staff and household members.
Expand Access to Child Care
Several updates are designed to help educators safely serve more families, including adjustments to child-to-staff ratios for school-age children and clearer guidance on capacity. Changes also aim to create more opportunities for infant and toddler care, which is one of the most in-demand and hardest-to-find types of care in Michigan.
Improve Clarity for Families and Early Educators
The revised rules provide clearer expectations for care, including updated guidance on discipline practices and daily routines. This helps families better understand what to expect when choosing a licensed home-based provider.
“We updated the rules in partnership with early educators to make sure they are clear, consistent, and focused on keeping children safe,” said Emily Laidlaw, MiLEAP deputy director overseeing the Office of Early Education. “These updates make requirements easier to follow so early educators can focus on caring for children, and families can feel confident in the care their kids receive.”
During the 90-day transition period, MiLEAP’s Child Care Licensing Bureau will provide training, technical assistance, and updated materials to support educators in understanding and implementing the new licensing requirements. Michigan’s child care home licensing rules are reviewed regularly to ensure they remain current, effective, and responsive to the needs of families and educators.
Additional information and resources for educators and families are available on the state’s child care licensing webpage. Licensing rules for child care centers were updated in 2025.
For families seeking child care options, visit the Great Start to Quality website. Families with children turning 4 before Dec. 1, 2026, can also enroll now in free, high-quality PreK through Michigan’s PreK for All initiative for the 2026–27 school year. This expansion builds on programs like the Great Start Readiness Program to ensure more children have access to early learning experiences that prepare them for kindergarten and long-term success. Visit MIPreKforAll.org for details.
BY-Audreanna Jones-Poole
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