Marquette-Alger RESA's free preschool program has grown from 73 children to 347 in five years, and staff are hoping to surpass 400 this school year.

The Great Start Readiness Program served just 73 four-year-olds through MARESA during the 2020-21 school year. By 2025-26, that figure hit 347. That's nearly five times the earlier count. With 322 students already signed up for the 2026-27 year, early childhood specialist Whitney Schampers told WLUC that staff are targeting more than 400.

"Kids who start ahead stay ahead, and I think that's really important," Schampers said. "What we find is those kids have a lot more skills going into kindergarten, so they're more ready to learn."

The surge tracks a statewide boom. Nearly 53,000 Michigan families had applied to the program as of July, a 15.7% jump from the same point last year, according to the state Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential. The program, once limited to lower-income households, dropped all income restrictions starting with the 2024-25 school year. The state estimates it saves a typical family $14,000 a year in child care costs.

Michigan is one of only six states to meet all 10 quality benchmarks set by the National Institute for Early Education Research, according to the institute's 2025 yearbook. The state increased preschool spending by more than $100 million, adjusted for inflation, in 2024-25 and enrolled 47,981 children statewide that year, up 6,861 from the prior year.

Schampers attributed Michigan's national standing to features like home visits, family conferences, classroom involvement for parents and low teacher-to-child ratios.

Who qualifies

Any child who turns 4 by Dec. 1, 2026, is eligible regardless of family income. The program operates in local public schools, public school academies and community-based childcare centers, with half-day and full-day options available four or five days a week. Free transportation is offered in some areas.

Enrollment remains open. Families in Marquette and Alger counties can apply through MARESA's online portal or by calling (906) 226-5100. Statewide information is available at MiPreKForAll.org.