Woolford Walks Back Day Care Fraud Claim; Says MiLEAP Must Be More Transparent

(Source: MIRS.news, Published 06/25/2026) A House Oversight subcommittee chair walked back an earlier claim that an apparently defunct Clinton Township day care bilked the state of $1.12 million today, but blamed a state agency for not being clear on how it discloses grant recipients.

Earlier in the day, Rep. Jason Woolford (R-Howell) said his House Oversight subcommittee on State and Local Public Assistance was looking into 1st Premier Learning Academy & Daycare, which allegedly received $1.12 million in Child Development and Care (CDC) program payments between 2023 and 2026.

Apparently, the facility's phone number doesn't work. Woolford's staff have shown up at the daycare to find nobody around. Employees of neighboring businesses said they never saw any kids going in or going out.

Later in the day, the Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement and Potential (MiLEAP) shot off a press release stating in bold type that “The named facility is not a licensed child care provider in MIchigan and has not received any CDC scholarship program funding.”

MiLEAP noted that the business, operating under the name Kidz in Motion Early Learning Institute, is being reviewed for a license, but hasn't been issued one, yet.

“The Child Development and Care scholarship provides nearly 50,000 Michigan families access to safe, reliable and affordable child care,” said MiLEAP Director Beverly Walker-Griffea. “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.”

After the press release, Woolford told MIRS the Department's own information is “confusing and inconsistent” and that he plans on bringing the department in to address what he sees as a “transparency, accountability and public trust” issue.

“This isn’t about any one provider—it’s about MiLEAP’s systems,” he said. “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.”