Not necessarily. If you receive government assistance, your child may be income eligible for preschool. However, you are not automatically eligible for preschool because you receive food stamps, Medicaid or WIC.
Completing an application does not guarantee enrollment in a program. The application form is the first step in the process to applying for preschool. It helps us connect you with the program that you feel is best for your family.
After completing the application, you may still need to provide income, additional information to verify eligibility, and complete the enrollment process. Priority for enrollment is based on family income and additional life experiences. You will be contacted by a program advisor who will discuss next steps with you.
While it is a good idea to fill out your Interest Form as soon as possible, it generally does not impact the chances of your child getting into a particular program. Decisions to accept students are made based primarily on family income, and additional life experiences.
Tuition free programs are required to follow prioritization guidelines when enrolling children into families. Eligibility is primarily based on family income (federal poverty level), life experiences and child's age.
Head Start and Great Start Readiness programs are federally funded or funded by the Michigan Department of Education and have a defined list of eligibility factors. Preschool Interest Forms are reviewed for Head Start eligibility first.
Each child must qualify for the preschool program based on guidelines that include income verification and documentation of other school readiness risk factors.
Head Start
Four year-old programs - Children must be born between September 2, 2012 and September 1, 2013 to be eligible for a four year-old Head Start program during the 2017-18 school year.
Three year-old program - Children must be born between September 2, 2013 and September 1, 2014 to be eligible for a three year-old head start program during the 2017-18 school year. Three year old children will not be considered for enrollment until late summer, openings are limited.
Early Head Start - Children born after September 1, 2014 may be eligible for Early Head Start programs.
Great Start Readiness Program (GSRP)
Four year-old programs- children must be born between September 2, 2017 and September 1, 2013 to be eligible for a Great Start Readiness program during the 2017-18 school year.
No, indicating three program preferences does not mean your application will be sent to all three. Applications are sent to one program at a time.
We always try to honor parent request and send an application to your first preference, but if that program is full or has a school of choice policy that limits your child's enrollment, we may send your application to your second or third choice.
Income is all of the money the parent/guardian(s) living with the child have earned before taxes. Income includes:
All programs use evidence-based early childhood curriculums as approved by the Michigan Department of Education.
Highscope – for more information, visit Highscope
Programs use the State of Michigan child care licensing ratios. GSRP has a minimum of one adult to eight children. No classroom may exceed 18 children. Tuition programs may differ.
Yes, many of the District and Community Based Agencies that offer GSRP or Head Start also offer tuition programs. If your preferences include a site that has a tuition based program your application will be routed to that location.
If your preferences do not include a site that offers a tuition based program the, Great Start to Quality provides information on every licensed child care provider in Michigan. It can help you find a child care and/or preschool for your child.
Visit Great Start to Quality for more information.
Here you will find information on before- and after-school care, locations and contact information. Great Start to Quality
Please call 989-671-8181 or email us at earlychildhood@bcschools.net
To make changes to your child's application, please call 989-667-3209.