Preschool Programs

Wee Ones Preschool, located in the Evergreen West Elementary School, embraces the philosophy that each child has great potential and will develop at his/her individual pace. Children learn best in a creative, relaxed atmosphere. With staff support, children learn to make decisions, solve problems, share and take turns, listen and follow directions, discover more about others, and develop positive self-esteem.  

Wee Ones curriculum works to develop key skills through large/small groups integrating play, music, art and literacy. The curriculum focuses on the social, emotional, intellectual, auditory, visual and physical development of the preschool age child.
    
Children must be 3 years old or 4 years old by December 1 to attend Wee Ones programs. All staff are certified in First Aid and CPR. Classes run 30 weeks, based on two 15-week semesters, following the Allendale Public School calendar. Children need to be fully potty-trained by the first day of school unless medical conditions exist that have caused a developmental delay.

Class Schedule for 3-year-olds
Children must be 3 years old by December 1.

3 hours - TBD
3 AM Days: Monday - Wednesday - Friday
2 AM Days: Tuesday-Thursday

Class Schedule for 4-year-olds
Children must be 4 years old by December 1. 

3 hours - TBD
4 AM Days: Monday - Tuesday - Wednesday - Thursday
3 PM Days: Monday - Wednesday - Thursday
4 Full Days: Monday - Tuesday - Wednesday - Thursday (7 hours per day)

Tuition & Fees for 2024-2025 School Year
A $60 registration fee is due when the child is enrolled. 

• 3-year-olds (2 Days/Week) = $157 per month ($1,256 per year)
• 3-year-olds (3 Days/Week) = $235 per month ($1,880 per year)
• 4-year-olds (3 Days/Week) = $235 per month ($1,880 per year)
• 4-year-olds  half-day (4 Days/Week) = $295 per month ($2,360 per year)
• 4-year-olds full-day (4 Days/Week) = $565 per month ($4,520 per year)

Monthly payments are due the 1st of the month. Starting August 1 - March 1. Eight monthly payments. Classes run September - May.

Great Start Readiness Program(GSRP) is a free program for 4-year-olds who are income eligible or meet other qualifications. GSRP applications are accepted year-round.  If the program is full, applicants’ names will be placed on a waiting list for any available openings.  

Great Start Readiness Program, located in the Early Childhood Center building, provides a loving environment for children to learn and grow their creative, social, academic and motor skills. The APS Great Start Readiness Program uses Creative Curriculum to guide students toward school readiness. 

Income guidelines set by the State of Michigan for the 2022-23 school year:

Family of 2 - $59,160
Family of 3 - $74,580
Family of 4 - $90,000
Family of 5 - $105,420
Family of 6 - $120,840
Family of 7 - $136,260

Children turning 4 years old  by September 1 are prioritized for attending GSRP. Enrollment requests for birth dates between September 1 and December 1 will be considered and/or wait-listed. 

Click here to apply

All staff are certified in First Aid and CPR. GSRP classes operate full school days, Monday through Thursday.  

GSRP provides tuition assistance through the Michigan Department of Education. For information on qualifying, registration and more, please contact the preschool department at 616-892-3308.

If you are seeking to enroll a student in ECSE, please contact Heather Kennedy, Special Education Secretary, at 616-892-3460.

Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE) is a special education preschool program designed to foster and develop basic learning skills for children with physical, cognitive, language, hearing, visual, emotional or autism spectrum disorder impairments. The ECSE team prepares the children for and provides them with the skills they need to make a successful transition to elementary school. Children who qualify for the program receive specialized instruction from certified staff. It is designed to meet the individual needs of each child.

ECSE is for 3-year-olds to 5-year-olds. Eligibility is determined by evaluations conducted by an early childhood diagnostic team. An Individualized Education Plan (IEP) is written for qualified children. Services may include speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, and/or social work. Parents receive support and instruction sessions.

If you are seeking to enroll a student in ECSE, please contact Heather Kennedy, Special Education Secretary, at 616-892-3460.

Enrollment for 2024 - 2025 school year will be as follows:

An extension of our regular preschool program, Preschool Wrap-around care, is offered in Evergreen West Elementary.

Preschool Wrap-around staff are certified in first aid and CPR. The staff works jointly with all preschool classrooms, using the same curricula to best meet the individual needs of every APS preschooler.

Children must be 36 months, fully toilet trained and be enrolled in an AECC Preschool section to attend Wrap-around care.

Schedule Options and Fees
 

• Monday through Friday 7 a.m. - 6 p.m. care availability = $6.25 per hour
• Before Preschool 7 a.m. - until the start of preschool class 
• After Preschool - 6 p.m. care 
• Full Day care 
• $60  non refundable registration fee

Student must be enrolled in an APS preschool section. DHHS payments are accepted.

Applying for Preschool

• For questions, please contact the Preschool department at 616-892-3308.
• Popular preschool classes fill up quickly, so please register early. 
• A $50 registration fee is required. Once your child is placed in a preschool classroom, you will be billed for the registration fee.

How to Apply for Preschool at Allendale Public Schools

The link at the bottom of this section will take you to the application. After you submit the Google form, your preschool registration request will be processed and you will be contacted via email within 5 business days.

Documents Required for Preschool Attendance

Along with completing the above mentioned application, please be prepared to submit:

• Health appraisal completed and signed by a parent and a physician within the last 12 months.
• Immunization Record or notification of Waiver filed with the Michigan Department of Public Health
• Birth certificate

Great Start Readiness Program Scholarship Information

Additional documents needed when applying for a Michigan Great Start Readiness Program Scholarship are listed below. These documents must be received before your application can be considered.

• Ottawa County Early Childhood application
• Income verification (Examples W-2, Most recent income tax statement)                                                 

 If you have questions please contact the preschool department at 616-892-3308.

2024-2025 Preschool Registration