Great Start Readiness Program

 

 

The Great Start Readiness Program is a developmentally appropriate preschool that helps prepare children for later school success. Funded by a Michigan Department of Education grant and monitored by the state, this free program for 4-year-olds serves qualifying low-income families and at-risk children. Research shows that the earlier children are reached with academic and social lessons, the more likely they will succeed later in school and in life. This program allows children who may not generally have the chance to get the benefits of a quality preschool to get the skills needed to start kindergarten prepared.

The program is licensed and staffed by experienced teachers certified in early childhood education. Children are guided and encouraged in carefully planned activities that allow for development at their own rate. There are many locations throughout Kent County, including within Grandville Public Schools.

Great Start Readiness recognizes that parents are children's first and most important teachers. Therefore, the program has a substantial outreach to families, including home visits, workshops and group meetings. Parents are also required to participate in the classroom. 

 

Staff use developmentally appropriate practices, such as engaging children as active learners, individualizing work, allowing children to move at their own pace, encouraging children to use language for expressing ideas, praising children for their accomplishments and viewing errors as normal development.

To be eligible for the program, the child must be four years old by Sept. 1 of the year the child is applying and living in the Grandville School District; children who will be 4 on or before Dec. 1 may be eligible with a signed age waiver. Also, two of eight state-developed criteria must be met, such as certain income factors. Information on eligibility is gathered through a confidential application and interview process. Call 254-6554 (option 2) for info.

Beginning March 1 of each year, families can complete the GSRP application online for the upcoming school year, or apply by calling 616-447-2409 (Option 1 for English or Option 9 for Spanish).