Early Childhood Education Center receives Michigan Department of Education grant

The University of Michigan-Dearborn Early Childhood Education Center (ECEC) has received a competitive grant for the Great Start Readiness Program (GSRP) from the Michigan Department of Education.

The grant, which totals more than $81,o00 per year and is renewable for three years, provides tuition support for a high-quality preschool program for 4-year-old children who may be at risk of becoming educationally disadvantaged or who may exhibit special needs. The GSRP grant allows 24 children per year to attend the ECEC program for four half-days free of charge during the school year.

The ECEC seeks to fill the remaining openings for this program. If you or someone you know has a child who may qualify for the GSRP grant, please contact the Early Childhood Education Center at 313-593-5424.

To qualify for the grant, children must have at least two risk factors; the majority of the children have low income as one of the risk factors. Priority for participation in the grant program will be given to student, staff and faculty families. Scholarships are offered during the school year to help families defray tuition costs for current ECEC families.  The ECEC applies for the grant as part of its efforts to make the ECEC program available for families who are in financial need.

To be eligible for the grant, children must be 4 years old by December 1st of the school year for which you apply and exhibit at least two factors that may place them at risk for success in school. The State Department of Education broadly defines 24 risk factors, e.g., low birth weight, low income, parental substance abuse or addiction.