Preschool FAQs

Enrolling your child in preschool can be a daunting process! Here are some answers to the most frequently asked questions. As always, please feel free to contact us with any further questions! 
What is the difference between Great Start & Head Start?
Both are free preschool programs. Head Start is for 3 & 4 year olds & is federally funded; Great Start is only for 4 year olds & is state funded. Income eligibility requirements are different for each program, but generally speaking, your family needs to have a lower income to qualify for Head Start than it does for Great Start.
How do I know if I am eligible for free preschool?
Head Start & Great Start programs have different eligibility guidelines. For a detailed explanation, click here or here. For a generalized description, read below:

If your child is 3 years old: 
  • Your child may ONLY be eligible for Head Start programs
  • In order for your family to qualify, your family income must be at or below the federal poverty level

If your child is 4 years old:
  • Your child may enroll in either Head Start or Great Start programs
    • To enroll in Head Start, your family income must be at or below the federal poverty level
    • To enroll in Great Start, your family income must be 250% of the federal poverty level or below (example: If you are a family of 4, you would need to make $69,375 or less a year to qualify, based on the 2022 FPL)
  • Great Start programs in our county also have "over-income" slots (10% of their slots are reserved for families who are over-income). Families pay tuition on a sliding-fee scale based on family income (and how much over income the family is).
 
  • There are other factors that will automatically qualify your 3 or 4 year old for Great Start & Head Start programs:
    • If your child has an IEP (and your child's educational team determines inclusive preschool is the best option for your child)
    • If your family is homeless or in foster care
    • If your child receives social security income 
Note: FPL is adjusted on an annual basis. These numbers are for 2022 but may change in coming years.
When I complete the preschool application, what exactly am I applying for?
When you apply on-line (find the application here), you are applying for all of the Head Start & Great Start preschool programs in Huron County (NOT private programs, such as a religious organization's preschool). You are asked to specify your preferred program, but if there is not availability at that location, you can still be enrolled in a different preschool if you wish. You do not need to complete multiple applications to apply for multiple locations.
When will I find out if my application has been approved?
After you submit your application AND submit all required documents for preschool, it will be reviewed to determine eligibility. Then, it is assigned to a program. A representative from your preschool program will contact you regarding your preschool enrollment. You can expect to hear back about your application within a month of submitting paperwork & your application; please contact the office of Great Start at 989-269-3485 if you have not been contacted after a month of submitting your documents.