UPDATE: EAST LANSING - Investing in early childhood education is important, but the state of Michigan might be falling behind.

Michigan was once a trailblazer in K-12 and higher education, but the state's economic decline has resulted in consistent cuts for schools. Sam Singh, 69th district State Representative, says Governor Snyder is considering investing millions into early childhood education.

"We are hearing rumors that the governor is going to put $50 million into early childhood in this budget, and that's something I'm going to be looking for," Singh said.

The government spends about $108 million on early childhood education, but with 30,000 eligible preschoolers in the U.S., there just isn't enough funding to go around.

"My question will be to the governor and his advisers, this is a good first step, but what are we planning to do over the next few years, because if we're at only 25 percent or a third of where we should be, to me that's failing," Singh said.

Loraine Friedl, founder of Stepping Stones Montessori School in East Lansing says when it comes to education, starting early helps students transition into elementary school.

"They can come in and feed into our school because when they do, they're very secure, they fit in, they want to be social and they do very well here," Friedl said.

Friedl also says investing in children is worth it, because their minds are very impressionable at such young ages.

"You say a word, it sticks with them. So language is very important that we use with children," Friedl said.

Singh is committed to bringing more resources to Michigan for early education.

Governor Snyder has yet to approve the $50 million proposed for early education in the next budget, but Singh says a decision is imminent.

ORIGINAL STORY: EAST LANSING - Watch HOMTV's Meridian Magazine to see what State Representative Sam Singh says needs to happen to early childhood education in Michigan.