DETROIT, Mich. – The Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential (MiLEAP) announced that 500 PreK classrooms will open or expand thanks to the fourth and final round of Great Start Readiness Program Start Up Grants. Yesterday at the childcare center Someplace Else Learning Factory (S.E.L.F.) in Detroit, the Department and local lawmakers celebrated this accomplishment and the investments in PreK for All in the new budget recently signed by Governor Whitmer.
“We’re thrilled to celebrate the historic investments in the bipartisan budget as well as the Start Up Grants that are allowing providers to open or expand hundreds of classrooms, giving our youngest learners access to the PreK education they need to succeed,” said Dr. Beverly Walker-Griffea, director of MiLEAP. “MiLEAP is committed to working with all partners across the state to connect Michigan kids, families, and adults with the lifelong education opportunities they need on their path to prosperity.”
Great Start Readiness Program Start Up Grants provide $25,000 to help offset the costs of opening new or expanding PreK classrooms, including staff recruitment and training, facility improvements, outreach materials, and instructional materials such as curriculum and classroom supplies. Throughout the grant program, more than $31 million in grants were awarded to open or expand more than 1,200 PreK classrooms. In the fourth round, $12.5 million in grants will be used to open or expand 500 classrooms.
S.E.L.F. has received $25,000 through the program, using the funds to purchase classroom supplies and to offer a PreK classroom in the summer.
“I always wanted to be a teacher, so when I graduated from college I went straight into the field of early childhood education where I was able to see firsthand what children needed and I wanted to be able to offer it personally,” said Kenosha Witherspoon, owner and executive director of Someplace Else Learning Factory. “Kids benefit so much from having access to strong early childhood programs like Great Start to Readiness and PreK for All, so I’m thrilled to see the state’s commitment to these programs and I’m proud to be part of the collaborative process to help ensure all Michigan four-year-olds are given great preparational opportunities for the educational journeys that lie ahead of them.”
Chaunceia Esters of Detroit, the mother of a four-year-old daughter, said she was glad to see the investment in early childhood from the state of Michigan, because it gave her as a parent a variety of options as well as clear direction on what to do for her daughter when it came to her educational journey.
“I think having access to free PreK is a game-changer here in Michigan,” said Chaunceia Esters. “My daughter was enrolled during the 2023-2024 school year and when she started, she wasn’t talking as well, she wasn’t in a good routine, and her social skills weren’t as developed. After one year of participating in the PreK program at S.E.L.F. it was like she had been transformed. She was speaking better, she had acclimated to a new routine that worked well for our family, and her social skills blew my mind. I would say that our experience has been a 10 out of 10 and I would highly recommend it for anyone with a four-year-old who is contemplating the benefits of an established PreK program.”
MiLEAP and local lawmakers also praised the investment in PreK for All initiative in the recently signed FY 2025 budget, which gives access to free PreK for all Michigan four-year-olds, prioritizing those who need it most.
“By expanding access to the Great Start to Readiness Program, we are investing in the future of our children, our families and our state,” said Representative Regina Weiss (D-Oak Park).
“Expanding the Great Start to Readiness Program is a forward-thinking investment in our children’s future, ensuring our next generation of leaders develop the skills and foundation needed to succeed in school and in life, right here in Michigan,” said state Senator Jeremy Moss (D-Southfield). “A strong start in education benefits everyone, creating a more skilled, and prosperous state. By building up our youngest learners today, we are laying the groundwork for a brighter future for all Michiganders.”
How to Apply for Free PreK:
It’s not too late for families to enroll their four-year-old in PreK this fall!
The FY 2025 budget gives access to free PreK for all Michigan four-year-olds, prioritizing those who need it most. This saves families $10,000 per year.
If you have a child who will be 4 years old by Dec. 1, there are seats available this fall. Go to MiFreePreschool.org to find programs near you.
About MiLEAP:
Established by Governor Whitmer in 2023, MiLEAP’s mission is to improve outcomes from preschool to postsecondary so anyone can ‘make it in Michigan’ with a solid education and a path to a good-paying job. To learn more about MiLEAP, go to Michigan.gov/MiLEAP.
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