Early Childhood Projects and Partnerships
The Human Development and Child Studies department’s early childhood projects and partnerships aim to engage educators, families, community members and policymakers to inform and improve state and national programs and policies for children from birth to age 8. Our workforce development efforts span from high school career and technical education through doctoral programs in early childhood education.
The focal activities of our work include:
- Rigorous research and evaluation that generate new evidence/research-informed knowledge
- Training and technical assistance to disseminate that knowledge
- Community engagement and partnerships to enhance our reach
Visit each project/initiative for more information.
The Great Start Readiness Program (GSRP) is Michigan’s state-funded pre-K program for four-year-old children. Nationally ranked top in quality, GSRP prepares children for success in kindergarten and beyond. It continues to stay current in its evidence for impact through its statewide evaluations. In 2026, Oakland University was chosen as the new partner for GSRP evaluation through a competitive process.
For more information about GSRP, visit the MiLEAP GSRP website.
Overview
The purpose of the GSRP evaluation is to better understand how Michigan’s state-funded preschool program, the Great Start Readiness Program, prepares children for success in school.
The Oakland University Evaluation Team seeks to answer the following questions:
- How does GSRP help four-year-old children grow and learn?
- Do these benefits continue in kindergarten and third grade?
- What other supports or teaching practices help children in GSRP do better in pre-K, kindergarten and third grade?
OU Evaluation Team
Tomoko Wakabayashi
Professor, Chair and Coordinator of Early Childhood Ph.D. Program
Department of Human Development and Child Studies
405A Pawley Hall
(248) 370-3078
[email protected]
Noel Kelty
Assistant Professor
Department of Human Development and Child Studies
405C Pawley Hall
(248) 370-3067
[email protected]
Carol Markley
GSRP Project Manager
Department of Human Development and Child Studies
405B Pawley Hall
(248) 370-3077
[email protected]
Get Involved (OU Students)
Interested in research internships or assistantships? Contact [email protected] with the subject “Research Internship” for more information.
Contact: [email protected]
The Oakland University-Pontiac Initiative Early Childhood Education (OUPIECE) group is a subgroup of the larger Oakland University and City of Pontiac partnership formed in 2014. We believe in the power of equitable access to high-quality early learning for all children, with a special focus on our partnership with Pontiac.
Visit the OUPIECE website to learn more about our initiatives.
We are an open group. Contact us to join!
About Us
The OUPIECE was formed under the leadership of former Michigan State Representative and Pontiac community leader, Hubert Price. Mr. Price was a legislator when the legislation for Michigan’s state-funded preschool program, the Great Start Readiness Program (GSRP), passed. He believed that high-quality early childhood education can serve as a catalyst for the city’s revitalization.
While Mr. Price passed away in 2017, the OUPIECE group continues to operate under the mission to enhance the quality and access of early childhood services for children and families through various projects in Pontiac. Our group hosts monthly meetings that bring together professionals from a wide range of occupations. Members include area service providers, religious leaders, educators, government officials, community advocacy organizations, and parents.
Projects
The goal of the OUPIECE Pontiac Resilience Project is to spread awareness of the impact that Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and childhood trauma have on growing brains and the importance of relationships and compassion in building a healing, resilient Pontiac. Backed by the science of hope, we believe that:
Together, we can eliminate the toxic impact of trauma and adversities. Together, we can support children’s healthy development. And together, we can create a healing community and a stronger, resilient Pontiac. #PontiacStrong
For more information, check out our Pontiac Strong playlist on YouTube.
Career and Technical Education in Early Childhood Education
The goal of the Career and Technical Education (CTE) in Early Childhood Education program, created in partnership with the Pontiac School District, is to create equitable pathways to careers in education. This partnership will enable students at Pontiac High School to complete an Early Childhood Education program, earn industry-recognized credentials, attain post-secondary credits in high school, and build a bridge toward postsecondary degrees. It also addresses regional and local labor market needs:
- The need for more qualified early childhood education teachers
- The need for a more robust pipeline for teachers starting from high school
- The need for teacher preparation programs to attract diverse students, including those in low-income and minoritized communities
- The need to remove significant barriers to enrollment and completion for CTE and dual enrollment programs
We are the recipient of the 2025 Career and Technical Education Excellence in Practice Award for Business and Community Partnerships!
The goal of the Baby PEACE project, funded by the Spencer Foundation, is to co-design an infant-toddler childcare and resource hub at Pontiac High School. Baby PEACE will also serve as the partnership’s student teacher practicum site, and as a value-added resource for the community. Community members serve at all levels and capacity, including data collection, for this project.
Read more about Baby PEACE in the School of Education and Human Services magazine Connect.
The goal of A Room Full of Books project is to provide the Pontiac community access to new or gently used, high-quality children’s and youth/young adult literature.
If you live or work in Pontiac, let us know! We have more than 1,600 books ready for a new home. We also take donations of new or gently used books.
Leadership Team
Dr. Shawna Boomgaard
Social Work/Mental Health Faculty — Oakland Community College
(248) 522-3535
[email protected]
How do you think OUPIECE can contribute to Pontiac families?
We provide resources and networking opportunities to engage the Pontiac community.
Coco Moulder
Executive Director — Pontiac Promise Zone Authority Board
(248) 659-7418
[email protected]
How do you think OUPIECE can contribute to Pontiac families?
Continuing to introduce ACEs to the community and being open to understanding.
Tomoko Wakabayashi
Professor, Chair and Coordinator of Early Childhood Ph.D. Program
Department of Human Development and Child Studies
405A Pawley Hall
(248) 370-3078
[email protected]
How do you think OUPIECE can contribute to Pontiac families?
Through community-led partnerships, and by doing what we each do best.
News and Publications
- Pontiac Students Meet Harvard President
- Wakabayashi, T., Boomgaard, S., Moulder, C., & Powell Medlock, A. (2024). Theories into Practice: Building Youth Resilience through School-Community-University Partnerships. Journal of Trauma Studies in Education, 3(2), 122–137. https://doi.org/10.70085/jtse.v3i2.6019
Newsletter and Contact Us
Visit our newsletter archive to access previous OUPIECE newsletters or join our mailing list. To learn more about our projects or inquire about joining, please contact us directly.
Human Development and Child Studies
456 Pioneer Drive
Rochester , MI 48309-4482
(248) 370-3077
Fax: (248) 370-4242
