Head Start and Great Start Readiness Program
Branch ISD offers two classroom based programs, Head Start and Great Start Readiness Program.
Head Start is a federal program that promotes the school readiness of children ages three to five from low-income families by enhancing their cognitive, social, and emotional development.
Head Start programs provide a learning environment that supports children’s growth in the following domains:
- language and literacy
- cognition and general knowledge
- physical development and health
- social and emotional development
- approaches to learning.
Head Start programs provide comprehensive services to enrolled children and their families, which include health, nutrition, social, and other services determined to be necessary by family needs assessments, in addition to education and cognitive development services. Head Start services are designed to be responsive to each child and family’s ethnic, cultural, and linguistic heritage.
Great Start Readiness Program is Michigan’s state-funded preschool program for four year old children with factors which may place them at risk of educational failure. The program is administered by the Michigan Department of Education, Office of Great Start. Research on preschool programs and specific research on GSRP indicates that children provided with a high-quality preschool experience show significant positive developmental differences when compared to children from the same backgrounds who did not attend a high-quality preschool program.
To strengthen learning at home and strengthen positive child outcomes, programs must provide for active continuous involvement of parents in the learning process.
Below you may find answers to many common questions. If you need more assistance please do not hesitate to contact our office.
| Household Size | Federal Poverty Level 100% * |
|---|---|
| 1 | 12,140 |
| 2 | 16,460 |
| 3 | 20,780 |
| 4 | 25,100 |
| 5 | 29,420 |
| 6 | 33,740 |
| 7 | 38,060 |
| 8 | 42,380 |
| For each add'l family member add | 4,320 |
* Families at or below 100% of poverty must be referred to Head Start. Enrollment in GSRP is deferred until the referral process is complete.
| Household Size | GSRP 250% of Poverty Level *** |
|---|---|
| 1 | 30,350 |
| 2 | 41,150 |
| 3 | 51,950 |
| 4 | 62,750 |
| 5 | 73,550 |
| 6 | 84,350 |
| 7 | 95,150 |
| 8 | 105,950 |
| For each add'l family member add | 10,800 |
***Families with a household income that is less than or equal to 250% of the federal poverty level qualify income eligible for GSRP with additional risk factors as determined by MDE
In the operation of the Child and Adult Care Food Program no child will be discriminated against because of race color, national origin, sex, age, or handicap. Any person who believes that he or she has been discriminated against in any USDA-related activity should write immediately to the Secretary of Agriculture, Washington, D.C. 20250 .