Developmental Preschool

Contact Information:

313-827-8352

billingech@dearbornschools.org

Our Philosophy

The philosophy of the Early Childhood program involves the education of the “whole” child using the HighScope curriculum. We emphasize play-based learning as an effective learning tool. Studies indicate that play is the work of the child, and it is through play that children’s learning and self-esteem are enhanced.

Our activities and experiences focus on each child’s social, emotional, physical, and cognitive growth. Classrooms are arranged based on HighScope's Key Developmental Indicators (KDIs) across a variety of dedicated Interest Areas:

House Area: Encourages social interaction and role-playing.
Sand and Water Area: Enhances sensory exploration and foundational science concepts.
Blocks Area: Develops spatial awareness, mathematics, and motor skills.
Writing Area: Promotes literacy and fine motor development.
Woodworking Area: Develops hand-eye coordination, fine motor skills, and problem-solving.
Art Area: Encourages creativity and self-expression.
Reading Area: Develops early literacy and a lifelong love for reading.

Enrollment Updates

We are still accepting applications for the upcoming school year!

Preschool Locations

Howe

Mccollough

Snow

Lindbergh

DuVall

Location Change

Cotter Preschool: The Cotter preschool room has officially moved to the McCollough-Unis school building.

Enrollment Requirements & Guidelines

Age Requirement: The earliest age accepted is 3 years old by September 1.
Potty Training: Children must be fully potty trained to enroll.
Required Documentation: Before your child can attend, you must provide their Immunization Records, Birth Certificate, and a completed Health Appraisal Form.
Calendar: We follow the standard Dearborn Public Schools district calendar, with the exception of early release days.
Early Release Days: Developmental Preschool does not participate in district early release days. We will always run a full, regular program on those days.
Meals: Breakfast and lunch are included in the tuition for all full-day sessions.

Scheduling & Session Times

Minimum Schedule Requirements

Standard Locations: A child must be scheduled for a minimum of two full days per week or three half days per week.
DuVall Exception: Minimum schedule requirements differ for the DuVall location based on age (see session's below).
Schedule Consistency: Families may choose a 2, 3, or 5-day weekly schedule for full days. Please note: A 4-day full schedule is not available.

Preschool Session Hours

Morning Session (McCollough-Unis): 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Morning Session (DuVall): 9:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
- Four-Year-Olds: Monday, Wednesday, Friday
- Three-Year-Olds: Tuesday, Thursday
All-Day Session (Snow, Howe, McCollough-Unis): 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
All-Day Session (Lindbergh): 8:45 a.m. – 3:45 p.m.

Kids Club Extended Care

Extended morning and afternoon sessions are part of our Kids Club program. Registration is required separately: Register for kids club here

Morning Extended Session: 7:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. (Available at Snow, Lindbergh, DuVall, Howe)
Afternoon Extended Session: 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. (Available at Snow, Lindbergh, Howe, DuVall)

Tuition, Fees, & Discounts

Billing Policy

All programs are billed monthly. Invoices are issued on the 1st of each month and payments are due by the 15th.

We accept Michigan Department of Human Services (MDHS) payments! Please call the early childhood programs office to ask how to apply

2026–2027 Program Fees

Registration Fee (Non-refundable): $75 for the first child; $15 for each additional child.
Half-Day Session: $29.75 per session
Full-Day Session: $49.75 per session
Extended Session (AM or PM): $8.25 per session
Drop-In Fee: Additional $3.00 per session

Available Discounts

Sibling Discount: 10% off tuition for full days ONLY.
Dearborn Public Schools Employees: 20% off tuition for full days ONLY.

Note: Discounts cannot be combined. To qualify for either discount, the child must be your legal dependent or a member of your permanent household.

Important Rules & Policies

Illness Policy: We do not credit accounts for days missed due to illness. While we greatly appreciate you letting your classroom teacher or Kids Club site know your child will be absent, credit cannot be issued. If your child will be out for an extended period, please contact our office to discuss your situation.
Vacation Policy: We do not credit accounts for family vacations taken during your regular schedule. Your monthly payment secures your child’s designated spot in the program.
Consistent Scheduling: You must maintain a regular, consistent weekly schedule. Our system cannot accommodate rotating schedules or alternating weeks.
Program Withdrawal: You may exit the program at any time by providing a one-week written notice (previously two weeks). Please email your notice to the billing secretary at billingech@dearbornschools.org.