Michigan lawmakers are investigating a Clinton Township childcare provider after committee investigators said the business received more than $1.1 million in taxpayer-funded childcare reimbursements despite no visible signs of active operations at its listed address.
Investigators Review $1.1 Million in Payments.
Committee investigators said 1st Premier Learning Academy & Daycare received $1,121,641 in Child Development & Care reimbursements during the period under review. The program uses public funds to help eligible families pay for childcare.
Clinton Township Site Was Locked
Committee staff visited the Garfield Road location on June 12 during advertised business hours. They said the building was locked, though lights were visible inside. Investigators said they did not see children or employees at the site. Calls placed to the daycare reportedly went to an answering service rather than to on-site staff.
Chairman Made a Separate Visit
Subcommittee Chairman Rep. Jason Woolford visited the location on June 15. The committee said no one answered after he knocked repeatedly at the front door. Investigators said the outdoor play area appeared unused. The area included a fenced asphalt space, grass growing through pavement, an old playhouse pushed against the building, and stacked chairs holding rainwater.
Licensing Status Draws Scrutiny
The provider’s licensing status is now a key part of the review. Investigators said they could not locate an active childcare license for 1st Premier Learning Academy & Daycare. The address was also connected to Kidz in Motion Early Learning Institute, a daycare whose license was listed as closed. Michigan maintains a public tool that families can use to review licensed child care centers and homes across the state.
State Program Requires Provider Verification
Once the assignment is complete, the provider receives an authorization letter that shows the start date and approved hours. The state says that information from the provider verification form is part of the process that occurs before billing starts.
Billing Rules May Be Reviewed
Michigan’s provider guidance says childcare providers must follow rules when billing for subsidized care. Licensed providers are instructed to maintain enrollment agreements for each child and bill only for eligible care.
The state also says providers should not bill before a child’s first day of care or after a child’s last day of care. Those provider billing guidance rules could help investigators compare reimbursements with attendance, enrollment, and authorization records.
Company Operates Other Childcare Sites
The committee identified Premier Early Childhood Education Partners LLC as a Chicago-based company that owns and operates several childcare facilities in Michigan. The report said Premier MI Network Clinton Twp does business as 1st Premier Learning Academy & Daycare. That entity allegedly received the reimbursements now under review.
Public Funds Were Meant For Families
The Child Development & Care Program is designed to help families afford childcare while parents work, attend school, or meet other approved needs. The state says families can apply for payment assistance through MI Bridges, and child care payment assistance is available for eligible households.
That broader purpose gives the investigation financial and public policy weight. If payments were made without confirmed care, the issue could undermine trust in a program used by families who need stable access to childcare.
Inquiry Focuses On Records
The next stage of the investigation is expected to focus on documents. Lawmakers may seek billing records, provider files, authorization letters, attendance claims, inspection records, and agency communications. Investigators may also review whether state systems generated warnings. Possible warning signs include a closed license at the same address, large reimbursement totals, unanswered calls, mismatched records, or no visible operations during business hours.
No charges have been announced against 1st Premier Learning Academy & Daycare or any related entity. The latest known status is that the legislative investigation remains ongoing as lawmakers examine how more than $1.1 million in childcare reimbursements was routed to a provider that investigators said they could not verify was operating at its listed Clinton Township address.
