What does GSRP mean?
GSRP stands for Great Start Readiness Program. It refers to 4 yr old prek that is no cost to families who qualify. It’s different from Head Start and Private PreK because it is paid for with money from The State of Michigan. Head Start is paid for by money from the Federal government and is for 3 and 4 yr olds. Private preschool is paid for by money from a family’s own income.
Is it actually high quality?
Michigan is one of only 6 states in the nation to meet all 10 quality standards set by the for pre-kindergarten set forth by the National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER), Click here for more details. GSRP meets all of the Michigan Childcare Licensing standards in addition to some higher standards, including ratios of 1 adult for every 8 children with a maximum of 18 children in a classroom. Additionally, all teaching staff have a Child Development Associate certificate or a Bachelors in Early Childhood Education. Each GSRP classroom has a research based curriculum (High Scope Curriculum) and child assessment that helps teaching teams know how to meet each child’s individual learning needs. Progress of children’s learning is measured over the school year and that information is shared with parents at family conferences which are offered twice per school year. All classrooms follow a daily routine that includes time for three nutritious meals a day. Despite all of this information, we know that families are going to have different opinions and preferences about what feels high quality to them. To find out more about the quality of the specific program you are interested in, Michigan does offer a standard way of measuring quality through what’s called the Star Rating System at an organization called Great Start to Quality. On their website, greatstarttoquality.org, you can find the quality levels of any licensed childcare or prek, including those that have GSRP classrooms. These ratings are based on the standards put in place by the State of Michigan to measure quality childcare. We also recommend going to a location to check it out. Get a feel for the environment, teaching team, and administration and see if it meets your idea of what feels good for your child.
Eligible children who turn 4 on or before September 1st are enrolled first. If your selected location has open seats after September 1st, any qualifying child that turns 4 on or before December 1st can then be enrolled. For other eligibility requirements, please see next question. Remember, enrollment across the state is open through at least January 31st, any given school year.
What is the age should my child be to enroll?
Am I actually going to qualify? What does the term “expanded eligibility” mean?
Here’s the breakdown on eligibility:
First, a child must be 4 years old by September 1st. Those qualifying children are enrolled first. Then, if a program still has room and your child has a 4 yr old birthday between September 2nd and December 1st, those qualifying children can be enrolled starting September 2nd. (IMPORTANT NOTE: Enrollment is open and ongoing to qualifying families through at least January 31st each school year)
Next, in 2024 the State of Michigan expanded GSRP to create PreK for All. This means that all Wayne Co. 4 yr old’s are eligible for GSRP, with priority for the families who need it most.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Previously, if a family was over income, they may be asked to pay a small fee for tuition. This requirement has been removed, meaning no tuition fees will be collected from any family.
Who are the families that need it most? Families with the following criteria will be prioritized for enrollment:
Documented disability or developmental delay of parent or child
Primary language spoken in the home is any language other than English
Parent/guardian with low educational attainment (meaning the parent or guardian has not graduated high school. Even if they have a GED, this would still make them eligible)
Reported abuse or neglect of a child or parent including substance abuse (note: this is reported, not substantiated. Just reported.)
Parental loss due to death, divorce, incarceration, military service, or absence
Parent or Guardian under 20 years of age at time of birth of the child being enrolled (if you were a teenager when the 4 yr old you are trying to enroll was born, you qualify)
Residence in a high-risk neighborhood (area of high poverty, high crime, or with limited access to critical community services)
Prenatal or postnatal exposure to toxic substances known to cause learning or developmental delays
Families with income 400% or lower of the poverty level
IMPORTANT NOTE: Since the State of Michigan expanded eligibility for GSRP, they have changed the rules so that families who were previously “over income” are now eligible. Income is now just one factor in determining which families should be prioritized.
PRO TIP: Don’t give up if you find your first choices for locations are full with prioritized students! Each year, free PreK slots go unfilled, and we want to be sure those slots can be filled. If you need help finding a location with openings, please call or text Help Me Grow at 313-410-4588. We can sift through the options so you don’t have to.
This is a lot. We get it. If you still have questions, know that you can also fill out the help form or you can call or text Help Me Grow at 313-410-4588.
HINT: Help Me Grow can provide live translation services in 42+ languages AND there are some GSRP sites with multilingual staff where we can get your family connected.
OPTION 1: Our recommendation is to directly contact the GSRP locations you are interested in, using the contact information on the GSRP Roster. There are other ways to enroll, but they can be confusing.
OPTION 2: Contact Help Me Grow Detroit-Wayne to get a real person to walk you through the process. You can use the form linked here, or you can text or call 313-410-4588. Live Translation is available. Help Me Grow Care Coordinators will respond to your message within 48 business hours.
Please Note: Help Me Grow cannot enroll children in GSRP. We are simply here to help you navigate a complicated system and get you connected to the program that can enroll your child.
NEXT STEPS: Once you contact your preferred location you’ll want to make sure of the following:
Do they have an opening for your child?
Do they offer transportation, if needed?
Do they have staff that speak your child’s first language, if preferred?
Do they offer before and after school programming, if you need it?
Once you know the location you have chosen offers everything you need, ask them for their specific next steps for enrollment (some are in person on paper, and others will have a link to share with you).
They will likely include the following:
You may need a copy of your driver's license or a legal form of identification (Need help getting ID? Fill out the help form or you can call or text Help Me Grow at 313-410-4588. Translation available!)
You may need a copy of your child’s birth certificate (Need help getting a birth certificate? Fill out the help form or you can call or text Help Me Grow at 313-410-4588.)
You may need a copy of any income information you may have such as two pay stubs (that is just an example, you can talk with the location about other documents that may assist you with proof of income or lack of income). If a family is reporting as having zero income, they can also sign a form to indicate that they have zero income.You may need to complete a health appraisal for your child that is assessed within 30 days of enrollment. (If you need help finding a doctor to complete your health appraisal, fill out the help form or you can call or text Help Me Grow at 313-410-4588. )
Submit your application (per the instructions from your selected location) along with any supporting documents required, and the administrative staff will determine your eligibility. This will be based on the priority factors listed in the expanded eligibility section above or click here for more information. If there are openings at their school, and there is no other student with a priority factor ahead of you, your child will be enrolled. If it is determined that your child is eligible, the location will complete your registration and your child will start school. (IMPORTANT NOTE: many programs enroll as late as January 31st if they haven’t filled up).
PRO TIP: Just because one location is full, does not mean you are out of luck. Every year, Wayne Co has extra seats available in GSRP classrooms. The Help Me Grow Preschool Hotline (313-410-4588- Remember, that’s Lesley and Jess!) can help you find a variety of locations if you need back up.
The process for enrollment seems complicated, what are the actual steps?
Your selected GSRP site can be anywhere in Michigan. It doesn’t need to be in your local neighborhood. Many families choose sites that are outside of their neighborhood. Families might look for locations with staff that speak their first language or participate in their cultural practices, or they might look for locations that are close to work or close to other family members for pick up and drop off support. Some families look outside their neighborhood because their local sites may be full. Some families who are close to a county border may find a location in a neighboring county. These are all options for families.
IMPORTANT NOTE: If your family is seeking a location with a specific language spoken or a location with specific knowledge of your family’s cultural or religious practices, and the sites near you with these amenities are full, please do contact Help Me Grow using the help form or call or text at 313-410-4588 for support. Remember, there is live translation available. If there is not a location that meets your needs, we will work to share your needs with the Wayne County Intermediate School District (Wayne RESA) and advocate for training and support at an available location.
What if a location is outside of my home neighborhood?
YES! The GSRP Roster lists sites that have staff that are multilingual. If you need support in a language other than English, please call Help Me Grow at 313-410-4588. Live translation is available. Even if the location you choose does not have translation support, Wayne RESA and HMG are committed to ensuring that translation support can be provided.
Are there sites that have teachers that speak different languages?
No. A child or family's citizenship or immigration status should never be requested or required to participate in GSRP. If a family is, for any reason, asked to provide this information verbally or in document form, please contact us directly at 313-410-4588, for support. Live translation will be available.
For immigrant or refugee families, is immigration documentation or proof of citizenship ever requested or required?
The schedule varies among GSRP providers: there are 4 day a week options as well as 5 day a week options. Full day programs must run a minimum of 7 hours per day, but that also varies: some programs run 7:30 - 2:30, some run 8-3, some run 9-4, etc. Each provider should be able to give you a daily schedule with their classroom routine that includes times of day the program runs as well as a school year calendar with dates their programs are closed (winter break, spring break, days for home visits, etc.). Some programs also offer before and after care at a cost to families. Many programs list their schedule and available programming on greatstarttoquality.org.
What is the GSRP schedule like for the school year?
If you still don’t find an open slot, you can find additional private pay preschool options at greatstarttoquality.org. Additionally, there are some limited preschool scholarship opportunities in specific neighborhoods. You can also use the help form to contact Help Me Grow for more information on private pay preschool or childcare options. You can also call or text Help Me Grow at 313-410-4588 for more information. Live translation is available.