Full and partial scholarship preschool opportunities still available; High quality programs offered up to four days per week

The Quality Preschool Partnership (QPP) of Clare and Gladwin counties continues to enroll local children, ages 3-5, in free and reduced cost high quality preschool programs for the 2013-2014 school year.

As a joint recruitment effort by Mid Michigan Community Action Agency, NEMCSA Head Start, Harrison Elementary, and Gladwin Elementary, the Quality Preschool Partnership ensures an efficient preschool application process for all eligible families in Clare and Gladwin counties.  Those who apply will be referred to either Head Start or Great Start Readiness Program (GSRP).

Enrolled children have the opportunity to attend full-day or part-day programs four days per week.  

While full scholarships for Head Start and GSRP are available to those who meet federal and state guidelines, including income, partial scholarships for the high quality preschool programs are also offered to those who exceed the income limits.

“A sliding fee scale exists for children whose parents surpass the income requirements, but face other challenges that could keep their child from attending a preschool program,” said Kendra Curtiss-Tomaski, director of early childhood and family services at Clare-Gladwin RESD (the QPP’s implementing agency). “Health, family, and financial stressors are just a few of the many situations taken into consideration when determining if one is eligible for a partial scholarship. We encourage all families interested in a high quality preschool experience to call us at 386-8075 so we can help identify your best next steps.”

Research has shown that during the first five years of life, important skill sets such as emotional intelligence, motor development, visual recognition, early sound recognition, and music are optimally developed, providing the foundation for learning throughout life. “These findings illustrate that a high quality early childhood education is essential to a child’s future success,” said Curtiss-Tomaski.

For more information or to request an enrollment packet, call 989-386-8075.  

Local preschool students participate in Storytime

Two Harrison preschool classrooms recently joined together for Storytime, a monthly program provided by the Harrison Public Library. Children from Becky Nobis’ Early Childhood Special Education class of Clare-Gladwin RESD spent the afternoon with Cindy Scare’s Great Start Readiness Preschool class of Harrison Community Schools.

“Storytime is a great opportunity to bring the community into the schools, as well as to stress the importance of literacy and how it can be so much fun,” said Scare. “Storytime is a wonderful asset to our early childhood program and we absolutely love it!”

According to Nobis, another benefit of the shared afternoon was that it allowed her students with special needs to experience quality inclusion time with their peers. “It is important for the children in special education to have good role models during play, and in speech, sitting, and attending,” she said. “This is also positive for the children enrolled in the regular preschool because they learn that we are all unique and it helps to build compassion and understanding of others.”