Head Start/Great Start Readiness Program (GSRP)

Head Start is a high-quality free preschool program for eligible 3- and 4-year-old children in Kalamazoo County.

Our Head Start classrooms provide a nurturing learning environment where children grow in all areas – socially, emotionally, physically, and academically. We focus on hands-on experiences that build early math and literacy skills, as well as creativity, confidence, and a love of learning. Importantly, Head Start is a whole-family program: we partner with parents and caregivers to support your child’s success and connect your family with helpful resources. Every year, hundreds of local children attend KRESA Head Start and gain a strong foundation for kindergarten and beyond.

In addition to a rich educational curriculum, children receive healthy meals and snacks each day, plus health services like vision/hearing screenings and developmental assessments to ensure they are thriving. Head Start also provides each family with a dedicated Family Advocate who can assist with goal-setting, parenting support, and referrals to community services to strengthen the parent-child relationship and empower the whole family.

Great Start Readiness Program (GSRP) is Michigan’s state-funded preschool program for four-year-old children.

Great Start Readiness Program (GSRP) is Michigan’s state-funded preschool program for four-year-old children. It provides a free, high-quality preschool experience for families who qualify. In Kalamazoo County, KRESA coordinates the GSRP program in collaboration with all nine local school districts and community partners. Our goal is to make sure that every eligible four-year-old has the opportunity to attend a great preschool and enter kindergarten ready to succeed.

GSRP is part of the Kalamazoo County Pre-K collaborative, working hand-in-hand with Head Start and Kalamazoo County Ready 4s. This means there is one easy application for all public preschool options (Head Start and GSRP), and a centralized placement system to match your child to a classroom that meets your needs. Whether your child is placed in a Head Start classroom or a GSRP classroom, you can trust they’ll receive a nurturing, enriching early education that prepares them academically and socially for kindergarten. GSRP classrooms use research-based curricula and are taught by qualified early childhood teachers, ensuring a quality preschool education that supports the “whole child,” fostering growth in language, early literacy, math, motor skills, and social-emotional development.