Great Start Readiness Program at Schoolhouse Montessori Academy — Canton
Free, high-quality Montessori prekindergarten for eligible 4-year-olds. No tuition. No fees. Ever.
What is GSRP?
The Great Start Readiness Program (GSRP) is Michigan’s state-funded prekindergarten program for four-year-olds, administered by MiLEAP’s Office of Early Education. Decades of research point the same direction: children who attend high-quality PreK arrive at kindergarten more ready — socially, emotionally, and academically — and that advantage compounds over time. GSRP exists so that every eligible Michigan 4-year-old gets that start, regardless of family income.
At Schoolhouse Montessori Academy, GSRP families get the same Montessori classrooms, materials, and trained guides as our tuition-based families — through a program that costs nothing.
Free Means Free
During GSRP program hours (Monday–Friday, 8:00am–3:30pm — see the GSRP school year calendar for exact dates), enrolled families pay:
- No tuition
- No registration fees
- No meal fees
There is no hidden cost structure. If your child is eligible, the program is fully covered during the program hours.
*Transportation is not offered as part of our GSRP program at this time.
Is My Child Eligible?
Your child may qualify for GSRP if they:
- Will be 4 years old by the state’s established cutoff date for the current program year
- Are a Michigan resident
- Meet income eligibility guidelines set by the State of Michigan (MiLEAP)
- Meet any applicable Program Eligibility Factors documented at enrollment
Not sure where you fall? Most families aren’t certain until they talk it through with us — that’s what our Admissions Coordinator is for.
Every eligible child is welcome, full stop. GSRP children with disabilities, developmental delays, or challenging behaviors cannot be denied enrollment. This is a program requirement, not just a philosophy.
Why Families Choose Schoolhouse Montessori for GSRP
We’re not adding a “PreK program” on top of what we already do — GSRP families join the same Montessori environment every family at Schoolhouse Montessori experiences.
Dr. Maria Montessori’s approach starts from a simple belief: every child is a capable, curious learner who deserves the freedom to discover, not just be told. Between birth and age 6, children build the intellectual foundation they’ll carry for life — which is why Montessori educators have long called this “an education for life.”
In our classrooms, that looks like:
- Child-led discovery over rote instruction — kids build a lasting love of learning, not just a stock of facts
- Self-directed work cycles that build focus, independence, and decision-making
- Positive guidance — clear, reasonable expectations and role-modeling that build self-control, self-esteem, and cooperation
Within GSRP specifically, we also align to Michigan’s Early Childhood Standards of Quality for Birth to Kindergarten (ECSQ), and we hold ourselves to a standard of equity, inclusion, and belonging for every child and family who walks through our doors. We see families as a child’s first and most important teachers — GSRP is a partnership with you, not a drop-off service.
Getting Started
Spots are limited and filled on a rolling basis. The best next step is a tour — come see the classrooms, meet the teachers, and talk through eligibility and enrollment timing with our Admissions Coordinator.
These materials were developed under a grant awarded by the Michigan Department of Lifelong
Education, Advancement and Potential (MiLEAP)