Great Start Readiness Program
The Great Start Readiness Program (GSRP) is a state-funded prekindergarten program for four-year-old children with factors which may place them at risk of struggling in school. The program is sponsored by the Michigan Department of Education (MDE) and administered by Wayne RESA. Class size is limited to 16 students, and classes meet for full school days four days week (M-Th). The program provides educational, health, social work, mental health and parent involvement services. Classrooms are located within Dearborn Public Schools (see list below).
Information About Dearborn Public Schools Great Start Readiness Program:
Dearborn Public Schools Great Start Readiness Program provides a high quality early learning experience for four-year-old students. We are committed to serving the district’s youngest learners and respect and value our partnership with families and the community.
Children must be 4 years of age by December 1 of the year of entry and reside within the Dearborn Public School District. Students selected for the Great Start Readiness Program must meet guidelines as set forth by Michigan Department of Education (MDE).
The recruitment, eligibility and selection of children for the district’s GSRP program is an ongoing process throughout the school year. As classes are filled to capacity, prioritization continues to be based on families having the most identifiable needs by established criteria. Consideration is taken as to how the risk factors negatively impact the child’s development or future educational success. Application to the program does not imply acceptance. A wait list is created by the above prioritization process, and vacancies will be filled from the waiting list.
Dearborn Public Schools pre-kindergarten classroom curriculum is aligned with the National Early Childhood Standards and Michigan State Board of Education, Early Childhood Standards of Quality. To ensure fidelity to the standards, the early childhood programs are monitored through an inclusive and collaborative approach. The building principal monitors teaching and learning through the prekindergarten classroom visitation system, teacher evaluation, weekly collaboration, Professional Learning Communities, student assessments (Child Observation Record), and through a formalized process, the Program Quality Assessment.
GSRP Site Locations
Note, we will do our best to provide the most appropriate placement, but placement is not guaranteed.
Cotter Early Childhood Center
Becker Elementary
DuVall Elementary
Geer Park Elementary
William Ford Elementary
Henry Ford Elementary
Long Elementary
Lowrey School
McCollough Elementary
McDonald Elementary
Oakman Elementary
River Oaks Elementary
Salina Int & Elementary
Whitmore-Bolles Elementary
Documentation Needed for Application Process
For an application, please contact Cotter School at 313-827-6150.
- Birth Certificate
- Child must be four (4) years old by December 1st, of the year he/she begins school.
- Proof of Income
- Completed Child Application Form
- Proof of Disability (if applicable)
- The child’s parents or guardians must reside in Dearborn.
- Family interview (Risk Factors)
- Assessment of Child
Who qualifies?
In addition to the age requirement, all children must also meet GSRP Risk Factors.
Risk factors include items such as families who earn less than 250 percent of the poverty level, do not speak English at home or have a parent(s) with low educational attainment.
Learn more about eligibility criteria here.