“We have more than 55,000 children that are enrolled today in Michigan’s PreK for All.”
That’s Dr. Beverly Walker-Griffea, Director of the Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement and Potential, or MiLeap. She says enrollment numbers are the highest they’ve ever been since the program was launched in 2021.
“The Great Start Readiness Program, or GSRP applications for the next school year, are up 65%.”
The enrollment surge is due in part to financial relief for families struggling with the high cost of living. The program is available at no cost to Michigan families, regardless of income level. It’s estimated that the program saves families around $14,000 annually in childcare costs.
Director of Early Childhood for Kentwood Public Schools Teressa Gatza: “We have nearly 400 children enrolled in PreK for All programs this year. Research shows that a child’s brain is 90% developed by the age of five.”
Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s proposed 2027 executive budget includes more than $181 million for expanding the program.
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