DETROIT (WWJ) -- Wayne County families still have time to sign their kids up for preschool this fall.
Focus: HOPE announced Wednesday that they have added between 30 and 35 preschool slots for their new Great Start Readiness Program classrooms, beginning Oct. 27.
GSRP is a state-funded preschool program that has income eligibility requirements. Officials said the full-day program focuses on “hands-on learning, creative expression and foundational math and reading skills.” Breakfast, lunch and a snack in the afternoon are included everyday.
“While the loss of Head Start funding created significant challenges for families and staff, Focus: HOPE’s early learning program is not closed,” CEO Portia Roberson said. “We are reshaping and rebuilding to meet the needs of our community, and the expansion of our GSRP classrooms represents an important step forward in that process.”
Federal Head Start funding had cuts made earlier this year.
Hours for GSRP are Monday through Friday, from 8:30 a.m. until 4 p.m.
The program is open to Wayne County families who meet state income eligibility guidelines. Children must be 4-years-old by the program cutoff date.
“At Focus: HOPE, we remain deeply committed to ensuring every child has access to quality early learning opportunities,” Waymond Hayes, Early Learning Program Director at Focus: HOPE, said. “These new classrooms allow us to continue serving Detroit families with the same dedication and care that has been at the heart of our early childhood work for decades.”
Families can apply online here.
Focus: HOPE also offers tuition-based learning options for 3 and 4-year-olds. These programs also offer structured, play-based education to foster academic, social and emotional development, but unlike GSRP, they are not income-restricted.
Deputy Director of Early Learning Corey Shepherd said the programs are taught by teachers who are certified, creating a more family-oriented focus.
More information about all of Focus: HOPE’s early learning programs can be found at www.focushop.edu.