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PCCS outlines early‑childhood expansion plans, reports full GSRP enrollment and inclusion gains
Summary
District officials reported full enrollment in Great Start Readiness Program classrooms, growth in inclusion of students with IEPs, and plans to convert tuition preschool seats to GSRP as space permits.
Plymouth‑Canton Community Schools staff told the board on May 20 that the district’s early‑childhood programs are at full Great Start Readiness Program (GSRP) enrollment and that leaders are planning to expand tuition‑free preschool seats where facility space allows.
The presentation, led by Caitlin Opperman, coordinator of early childhood, and Kitty Yelmroot, special education supervisor, described the district’s early‑childhood goals: strengthen executive function and self‑regulation, language development and early problem solving, increase family engagement and close achievement gaps.
Why it matters: District leaders said early identification and high‑quality preschool increase kindergarten readiness. Board members asked how to expand access to low‑income families and how GSRP seats are allocated.
Key details: Opperman said the district serves 428 preschool students across eight locations, including tuition and tuition‑free options, and operates 10 early‑childhood special education classrooms plus other threes and autism‑spectrum classrooms. Early‑childhood staff reported a 55% increase in student participation in school lunch since introducing family‑style dining and said the district applied for the Child and Adult Care Food Program to provide free snacks for preschoolers. The state is offering a $40,000 start‑up grant for each new GSRP classroom; staff said the state hopes 75% of 4‑year‑olds will be in preschool by 2027.
Special education and inclusion: The district noted that more than 20% of students in early‑childhood special‑education classrooms moved into GSRP with 17.5 special‑education services this year. Opperman said the district’s model pushes special‑education services into general‑education preschool classrooms so students receive services in the least restrictive environment.
Referrals and staffing: Since July 1, 2024, staff said they received 299 referrals to early intervention services and currently have 30 referrals in process. Opperman said the early‑on program serves part C students and partners with Wayne RESA (Wayne Regional Educational Service Agency) for GSRP offerings and coaching.
Board reaction and next steps: Board members asked what limits expansion; staff said classroom space is the primary constraint and that the district plans to convert some tuition classes to GSRP where feasible. The administration said it will continue to explore creating early‑childhood hubs with licensed playgrounds, expand inclusion and work with extended‑day programming to offer pre‑K summer programming in 2026.
Ending: Staff asked the board to consider space and budget tradeoffs as the district works to expand free preschool access.
