About GSRP
What is Great Start Readiness Program (GSRP)?
​
-
GSRP is Michigan's state-funded preschool program for 4-year-old children with factors which may place them at high risk of educational failure.
-
GSRP is administered by Michigan Department of Education, Office of Great Start.
-
GSRP funding is allocated to each
intermediate school district (ISD) to
administer the program locally and in combination with LEAs/PSAs and community-based organizations (CBOs), including faith-based.
​
​
GSRP has three program options:
​
-
Part-day (minimum 3 hours per day, 4 days per week, 30 weeks per year)
-
School-day (minimum time is equivalent to the number of hours as a first grade
session-typically 6.5-7 hours, 4 days per week, 30 weeks per year) -
GSRP/Head Start Blend (same parameters as school-day AND all Head Start and GSRP policies and regulations are applied to
GSRP/Head Start blended slots, with the highest standard from either program adhered to)
GSRP Quality Model and Standards
-
GSRP must comply with Public Act 116 of 1973, as amended, and the Licensing Rules for Child Care Centers.
-
State School Aid Act requires adherence to all program quality and child outcomes standards in the State Board of Education adopted Early Childhood Standards of Quality for Prekindergarten (ECSQ-PK). The Department requires ISDs to address
GSRP program quality utilizing the Preschool Program Quality Assessment (PQA) tool.
-
All providers of GSRP must minimally be a 3 star level within Michigan’s Great Start to Quality tiered rating and improvement system.
​
​
GSRP Quality Factors
​
-
Master’s degree level Early Childhood Specialists (i.e., coaches)
-
Child to adult ratio of 1:8
-
Lead teachers with bachelor’s degrees minimum/associate teachers with associate’s degrees
-
Authentic parent engagement
-
Developmental screening using a standardized tool across core developmental domains
-
Use of a research-validated comprehensive core curriculum that aligns with the ECSQ-PK
-
Use of a research-validated comprehensive ongoing child assessment tool that aligns with the ECSQ-PK