Michigan lawmakers are examining a childcare provider that collected more than $1.1 million in taxpayer-funded reimbursements amid claims that it may not be operating from the address listed in state records.
The review focuses on 1st Premier Learning Academy & Daycare in Clinton Township and is being conducted by the Michigan House Oversight Subcommittee on State & Local Public Assistance Programs.
An investigative report says the provider received $1,121,641 through the Child Development & Care (CDC) Program from fiscal years 2023 through 2026, while committee staff reported that multiple visits to the listed site found no indication that children were being cared for there.
The address on file, 39781 Garfield Road in Clinton Township, is reportedly occupied by Kidz in Motion Early Learning Institute, a daycare whose state license is marked as closed, according to investigators.
Michigan lawmakers are looking into whether a childcare provider that received more than $1.1 million in public reimbursements was actually operating at its registered location. (Michigan House Oversight Subcommittee)
Investigators further stated that they could not find an active childcare license for 1st Premier Learning Academy & Daycare.
Committee staff said they tried calling the daycare during its posted business hours, but no one answered directly and every call was routed to an answering service.
On June 12, staff conducting a site visit said they found the building locked even though it was supposed to be open. Investigators noted that lights were on inside, but they did not see any employees or children.
Lawmakers said the facility’s outdoor play area appeared unused during a June site visit. (Michigan House Oversight Subcommittee)
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A nearby business tenant told investigators they had never seen children at the location, though they reported occasionally seeing construction activity.
Subcommittee Chairman Rep. Jason Woolford conducted his own visit on June 15. According to the report, no one answered the front door despite repeated knocking.
Investigators said Woolford found an outdoor play area consisting of a fenced-in asphalt lot with grass growing through the pavement, an old playhouse pushed against the building and chairs stacked outside filled with rainwater.
Committee investigators said they found no evidence that children were being cared for at the daycare’s listed address during multiple site visits. (Michigan House Oversight Subcommittee)
The report also said a rear door was unlocked, but no one responded after Woolford called inside.
Employees at a neighboring café told Woolford they had never seen children enter the facility.
According to the committee, Premier Early Childhood Education Partners LLC is a Chicago-based company that owns and operates several legitimate childcare facilities in Michigan.
The report states that one of those entities, Premier MI Network Clinton Twp, does business as 1st Premier Learning Academy & Daycare and received approximately $1.12 million in CDC reimbursements between fiscal years 2023 and 2026.
The oversight committee said its investigation remains ongoing, and no criminal charges have been announced.
News Agency has reached out to Premier Early Childhood Education Partners for comment.
