Enrolling at Bussey
Welcome to Bussey Center for Early Childhood Education Center
A Research-Based Early Learning Experience
Southfield Public Schools is committed to providing a high-quality early childhood experience for children from birth to age five. The learning journey in Early Head Start, Head Start, and the Great Start Readiness Program (GSRP) at Bussey provides opportunities to cultivate engaging and open-ended learning experiences. The HighScope Curriculum, a research-based early childhood education approach, incorporates active learning and direct engagement for a high-quality learning experience at Bussey. Our young scholars’ desire to learn and problem solve is facilitated by highly trained early childhood educators who prepare and cultivate children for future academic and life success.
Parents prepare your child for their future success!
Start the enrollment process today!
Bussey accepts students from all counties- Oakland, Wayne, Macomb, etc.
Early Head Start & Head Start
Ages: 0-36 months/3 years old *as of December 1, 2025*
Early Head Start programs provide family-centered services for families with very young children. These programs are designed to promote the development of the children, and to enable their parents to fulfill their roles as parents and to move toward self-sufficiency.
Early Head Start programs provide similar services as preschool Head Start programs, but they are tailored for the unique needs of infants and toddlers. Early Head Start programs promote the physical, cognitive, social, and emotional development of infants and toddlers through safe and developmentally enriching caregiving. This prepares these children for continued growth and development and eventual success in school and life.
Following the general Head Start model, Early Head Start programs support parents, both mothers and fathers, in their role as primary caregivers and teachers of their children. Programs assist families in meeting their own personal goals and achieving self-sufficiency across a wide variety of domains, such as housing stability, continued education, and financial security.
Early Head Start programs also mobilize the local community to provide the resources and environment necessary to ensure a comprehensive, integrated array of services and support for children and families. Please click here, Early Head Start Benefits Children and Families, to learn more about the benefits of Early Head Start.
Head Start preschool programs support children's growth from starting at age 3 with services that support early learning and development, health, and family well-being. Head Start staff actively engage parents, recognizing family participation throughout the program as key to strong child outcomes. Head Start programs are helping children get ready to succeed in school and life through learning experiences tailored to their changing needs and abilities.
Early Head Start and Head Start Programs:
- Building strong relationships is the foundational driver for early learning
- Engaging families in their child’s learning and recognizing parents as a child’s first and most influential teacher
- Implementing effective practices to promote children’s growth in five key domains: approaches to learning, social and emotional development, language and literacy, cognition, and physical development
- Encouraging learning through play, creative expression, and guided activities with schedules and lesson plans that include the cultural and language heritage of each child and family in relevant ways
- Creating welcoming learning environments in indoor and outdoor settings that are well-organized and safe
- Conducting ongoing screenings and assessments to ensure each child is making progress, and collaborating with parents and community agencies when further assessment is needed
- Supporting services for children with disabilities and building on their strengths
Bussey Center for Early Childhood Education
Early Head Start & Head Start Enrollment Process
Ages Birth - 3 Years Old (*as of December 1, 2025)
If you are interested in enrolling in the Bussey Center for Early Childhood Education,
begin the enrollment process in 2 simple steps!
Parents please be prepared to upload the following documents to facilitate your child’s enrollment process:
- Proof of Income
- Proof of Health Insurance
- Original Birth Certificate
- Health Physical (All results must be within a year)
o Height & Weight
o Blood Pressure
o Sickle Cell Anemia (done at birth)
o Hemoglobin or Hematocrit (numerical value)
o Blood Lead Level (numerical value)
o Hearing Test
o Vision Test
- Current Immunization Records
- Dental Exam
- Proof of child custody
Step 1:
Complete and submit the online application for the Bussey Center for Early Childhood
Education through the link below: Apply Online
Step 2:
Please click here, Pre-Enrollment, to complete and submit the
required application for Pupil Identification Number for prospective Southfield Public Schools students.
The Great Start Readiness Program (GSRP) is Michigan’s state-funded, no-cost, high-quality preschool program that is provided through the Woodhaven-Brownstown School District. Currently, there are GSRP classrooms at each elementary school within our district, operating Monday through Thursday following the building’s calendar, including school day start and end times.
GSRP is first offered to families whose children have turned 4 years old on or before September 1st and meet specific eligibility factors:
- Families with a gross income at or below 400% of the Federal Poverty Level
- Children with diagnosed disabilities or delays
- Children with challenging behaviors
- Parents, guardians, or children whose primary language is other than English
- Parent or guardian with low educational attainment
- Neglect or abuse of the child or parent/guardian
- Environmental factors such as parental death, incarceration, or absence; prenatal or postnatal exposure to toxic substances; residence in a high-risk neighborhood, or teenage pregnancy (parent under the age of 20 at the time of child’s birth)
GSRP Enrollment Instructions
The Great Start Readiness Program (GSRP) is Michigan's state-funded preschool Program for four-year-old children. There are two phases to any preschool program in the State of Michigan. Both steps are outlined below. You MUST upload all necessary documents in each step to complete the process. Please review and collect the required documents listed below before starting the process. Parents can enroll their preschool-aged children at any time of the year using our online platform.
What you need to know:
- Children must be 4 years old by December 1, 2025, to be eligible
- Families must meet the qualifications set by the Michigan Department of Education
- Spaces for GSRP are limited and are not guaranteed
- Notification of placements will start mid-to-late August
If you are interested in enrolling your child in the Great Start Readiness Program at Bussey Center for Early Childhood Education, begin the enrollment process in 2 simple steps!
Step 1: Please complete and submit the online application through Southfield Public Schools by clicking the link below:
https://mistar.oakland.k12.mi.us/southfield/PreEnrollment/
Step 2: Please complete and submit the GSRP application by clicking the link below:
Application - MiECC (Select Bussey Center for Early Childhood Education
Enrollment Contact Information:
Southfield Public Schools: Enroll Now - Southfield Public School District
Phone: 248-746-7601
Bussey Center for Early Childhood Education:
Southfield Public Schools
24501 Frederick Street
Southfield, Michigan 48033
(248) 746-7350
College Begins at Bussey!
Thank you for your interest in the Bussey Center for Early Childhood Education
