Wayne State’s early childhood centers have nine free preschool spots available

Nationally accredited programs accepting children who turned 4 by Dec. 1, 2025

Detroit - Wayne State University's nationally accredited Merrill Palmer Skillman Institute Early Childhood Center and the College of Education Early Childhood Center have announced that only nine preschool spots remain for the 2025-26 school year. These openings are available at no cost to families, with no income requirements, for children who turned 4 on or before Dec. 1, 2025. Families must enroll their children by Feb. 18.

Both centers offer Detroit families access to high-quality, research-informed early learning. The programs are NAEYC accredited, a national standard of excellence achieved by fewer than 10% of early childhood centers across the country.

Children attend Monday through Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., with before-school care available for families who need it. Classrooms emphasize social, emotional, linguistic, cognitive and physical development through a rich, play-based curriculum grounded in the latest research on child development.

"These nine free spots are an incredible opportunity for families seeking a nurturing, high-quality preschool experience," said Anna Miller, executive director of the Merrill Palmer Skillman Institute Early Childhood Center and the College of Education Early Childhood Center. "We are proud to offer a nationally accredited, university-affiliated program that prepares children for kindergarten and beyond. We encourage families to reach out soon while these final openings are available."

How to inquire about the remaining free spots

Families may visit docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdgoqD0ZpQJ83-4poekGOLGF-Nmt1qKVtrP47zWDq0iiQhw4Q/viewform to complete a brief prescreening questionnaire or contact either center directly:

Merrill Palmer Skillman Institute Early Childhood Center
Sarah Pellegrino, director
[email protected]
313-664-2533

College of Education Early Childhood Center
Honilynn Hendricks, director
[email protected]
313-577-1686

MEDIA CONTACT:
Tracy A. Boyce
[email protected]
313-577-0260