The federal government is gaining a lot of attention for tossing billions of new dollars into the early learning pool, but it is important to remember much of the most important work is led, developed and funded at a micro level.

For example, one group is working to create a universal preschool system in a Michigan county, the Kalamazoo News reports. This is only the latest in a long run of local initiatives in St. Paul, Minn., Jacksonville, Fla., Marion County, Ore., and elsewhere around the country that cobble together money from foundations, companies and others to improve early learning one county and one neighborhood at a time.

Of course, Thrive by Five Washington is developing comprehensive early learning programs – everything from prenatal visits to pre-kindergarten classrooms – in White Center and Yakima. Washington Early Learning Department chief Bette Hyde made a splash and impact by deciding to get kids ready for kindergarten by investing in quality child care, preschool and pre-k when she was head of the Bremerton School District.

“…School districts like Bremerton are using public and private dollars to partner with local early care and education community and share what they’ve learned with other school districts. You can barely open a newspaper anymore without reading about a local initiative to enhance early learning opportunities for kids.  The momentum is there.” Amy Blondin, a spokeswoman for the Department of Early Learning, wrote in an email.

Micro early learning work traces its roots back to the landmark Perry Preschool Study, and probably a lot earlier, which was initially funded by a grant from the Ypsilanti Public School District.

Today, the challenge is to bring together all of this local money with new and existing federal, state and local funds to make the biggest impact, Blondin added. This is a key reason why the state is developing its early learning plan this fall.

As Congress debates $8 billion for the Early Learning Challenge Fund and a growing list of other key investments in early education, it is important to remember the work, and often the funding, comes from the grassroots.

Thanks to the National Institute for Early Education for highlighting the news out of Kalamazoo.