You can apply now for free preschool in Washtenaw County

If you’re looking for free, high-quality preschool for your 3- or 4-year-old in Washtenaw County next school year, now’s the time to submit your application. The Washtenaw Intermediate School District’s (WISD) Help Me Grow Washtenaw website is the one-stop shop for families to apply to over 40 preschool programs offered through the district’s network of Head Start and Great Start Readiness Program providers. There are approximately 1,200 spots available throughout the county.

How it works

First, families submit their application online. Then, after submitting any necessary supporting documentation, they will have an in-person interview. 

“Once we assign the application to the school a family wants to attend, the school staff will reach out for the in-person interview, which has more specific questions,” says Ashley Kryscynski, WISD director of communications and public relations.

The online application should take about 20 to 30 minutes, with the in-person interview taking a half hour to an hour. Families will begin hearing about their application and next steps in March.

To help make the application process as smooth as possible, families should gather the following documents required for enrollment. Some documents are needed during the application process, while others may be provided after placement. However, families can begin the application even if some documents are not immediately available.

These documents are necessary for the enrollment process:

• Proof of birth (birth certificate, hospital record, baptismal record, or passport)
• Immunization record
• Proof of residence (utility bill, lease agreement, or similar document)
• Verification of income (tax return, W-2, DHHS statement, or similar documentation)
• If applicable, guardianship or custody documents

Before the start of school in August, families will also receive a home visit. 

“It’s a chance for kids and teachers to meet and get to know each other,” says Enrollment Specialist Christine Messer.

Spots are still available in Ypsilanti for the current school year, so if you’re looking for preschool now, you may be able to get enrolled. 

“If families still want to enroll, we can try to get them to a school with open spots,” Kryscynski says. 

Approximately 100 spaces remain for preschool in Ypsilanti for the current 2025-2026 school year. Contact preschoolenrollment@washtenawisd.org to learn more.

“We want as many kids as possible enrolled,” Kryscynski says. “Ypsilanti will also be an area of concentration for next year.”