GSRP PreK For All ● Portage, MI ● Enrolling Now for Fall 2026
Free Preschool for Every Portage Area 4-year-old.
Oakland Early Learning Center offers free, high-quality preschool through Michigan's Great Start Readiness Program (GSRP) — open to every family — inside the Oakland Academy building. It's the first step of a journey that runs right into kindergarten and all the way through 8th grade, in a place where your child is known from the very start.
Choose Oakland Early Learning Center as your first choice when you apply.
Ages
4 years old
Turns 4 by Dec 1, 2026
Cost
100% Free
No tuition or fees
Days
Monday-Thursday
Full-day program (before and after school care also available!)
Location
6325 Oakland Dr.
Portage, MI
Free Preschool for All
High-quality preschool at no cost to your family.
Through Michigan's PreK for All, every 4-year-old can attend free, high-quality preschool. There's no tuition — all families are welcome, and families who need it most are prioritized for a spot (see below).
At Oakland Early Learning Center, your child explores early reading, math, and science through play, in a safe and nurturing classroom led by caring, certified teachers — on the same campus where they'll grow up through 8th grade.
A quick heads-up on the details
On eligibility: Kalamazoo Regional Educational Service Agency (KRESA) prioritizes Great Start Readiness Program (GSRP) enrollment for families at or below 400% of the Federal poverty level. Key priority and qualification factors include:
- Income Limits: Priority is given to lower income levels (from 0% up to 400% of the federal poverty guidelines), with families up to 400% FPL qualifying for consideration (roughly $128,000+ for a household of four).
- Public Assistance: Families receiving SNAP, TANF, WIC, or SSI receive high priority.
- Other Risk Factors: Homelessness, foster care placement, or specific environmental risk factors also qualify children.
However, all families of all income levels and criteria are encouraged to apply.
On documents: The Kalamazoo County application asks for a few documents: proof of your child's age, your family's income, and where you live. These are used only to match your child to the right free program and to prioritize families who need it most. Providing them is free, and a higher income doesn't necessarily disqualify your 4-year-old from free preschool.
Who Qualifies
Simple to qualify, easy to start.
Who it's for
Any Michigan 4-year-old (turning 4 by December 1, 2026). Have a
3-year-old? Apply anyway, the same application checks other programs too.
What it costs
Nothing. Free preschool for every family, whatever your income.
What to have ready
Proof of age, proof of income, and proof of residency. That's all the application needs.
Why Oakland Early Learning Center
Not just a preschool, but a place to grow up.
Most preschools maybe travel up to kindergarten. Ours is the front door to a consistent educational experience and welcoming community, all the way through 8th grade.
01
One campus, all the way up
OELC's free PreK program sits inside Oakland Academy, so your child starts preschool in the same building where they can attend kindergarten through 8th grade — a seamless step up, no starting over.
02
Care that fits your family
As a full early learning center — not just a preschool room — OELC offers wraparound care around the school day for working families.
03
Small, personal, known by name
Oakland is built on small classes and personal attention — your child is known and treated as an individual from their very first day of preschool.
04
Right here in Portage
A close-to-home, community-first center where families are part of the school.
How to Apply
One application, and one
important step.
GSRP Preschool enrollment in Kalamazoo County goes through one shared application managed by Kalamazoo RESA, not directly through OELC. KRESA is the coordinating agency for Kalamazoo County Pre-K programs. They administer the Head Start and GSRP grants and partner with local schools and childcare centers to create a countywide preschool system that serves all eligible children. Here's how to make sure your child is placed with us.
Apply for Kalamazoo County Pre-K.
Complete the free application online at dreambigstartsmall.org — or download the fillable PDF and submit it with your documents to hsenroll.org. One application covers all of the county's free preschool programs.
Choose Oakland ELC as your preferred site.
When the application asks for a location preference, select Oakland ELC. This is how KRESA knows to place your child with us — if another site is listed, your child may be placed there
instead.
Have your documents ready.
You'll need proof of your child's age, your family's income, and your residency.
Let us help.
Not sure where to start? Contact the school or call us at (269) 324-3700. We'd be happy to have you come in for a tour!
KRESA reviews every application and matches each child to the best available free program based on eligibility and openings. Choosing Oakland ELC as your preferred site gives your child the best chance of a spot here. Questions about the county application? Call KRESA at (269) 250-9333.
"Oakland has wonderful, loving, and caring staff. Our children had wonderful care. We were sad to have to leave the area. The staff always had our children's best interests at heart. We knew it was a wonderful place when the kids did not want to leave for the evening."
– Oakland Early Learning Parent