Christ-centered care for curious little learners

Yes, we are a licensed childcare facility in the state of Michigan.

Our childcare providers meet or exceed all licensing requirements for the state of Michigan child care licensing.

Registration is currently open year round. The online registration form is available on the ELC webpage.

Monday–Friday from 7:00 am to 5:30 pm.

Inquire & Tour: Complete our Inquiry Form to express your interest and schedule a personalized tour of our center.

Join the Waitpool: Submit your Online Registration Form as soon as possible to secure your child’s place in our waitpool.

Check-In: You are always welcome to check your status periodically by emailing us at grcs-elc@grcs.org.

Accept Your Spot: When a vacancy opens, you will receive a “You Have a Spot” notification. Simply let us know if you’d like to accept.

Official Enrollment: Once you accept, we will send a “Welcome Email” containing all the necessary enrollment documentation to finalize your child’s start date.

A child must be 18 months of age by their first day of care.

We have five classrooms for our children entering the Early Learning Center.

• Our 3 “Buds” classrooms are for children ranging from 18–30 months old. The maximum number of children in each room is 8, with 2 caregivers.
• Our 2 “Blossoms” classrooms are for children 30 months to 3+ years old. The maximum number of children in each room is 14–15, with two caregivers.

Yes, your child is welcome to remain in the ELC until they begin preschool. However, we do expect children who turn three to transition out of the Blossoms room by August each year. We believe this move is an important and appropriate step in supporting their continued growth and development.

The ELC is open Monday through Friday from 7:00 am to 5:30 pm. The ELC is open year-round except for the following days:

• Memorial Day
• Fourth of July Break: 2–3 days
• Labor Day
• Thanksgiving Break: 2–3 days
• Christmas & New Year Break: 1–2 weeks
• July Cleaning Days: 3 days to deep clean the center
• August: 2–3 days for Teacher PD/Visiting Days for new students
• Two late start days at the beginning and end of each school year, to be specified on the calendar each year

The Early Learning Center does reserve the right to be closed, if needed, for building repairs or contagious illness.

Yes. The ELC works with GRCS food services who make and prepare meals following the CACFP guidelines. You can find a current menu on our website under the hot lunch menu tab. We serve breakfast, lunch and snacks everyday.

2025–2026 ELC Tuition

Buds Program

• Full Time – Annual Tuition: $17,700 | Monthly Tuition: $1,475
• 3 Days – Annual Tuition: $11,700 | Monthly Tuition: $975
• 2 Days – Annual Tuition: $9,000 | Monthly Tuition: $750

Blossoms Program

• Full Time – Annual Tuition: $16,325 | Monthly Tuition: $1,360
• 3 Days – Annual Tuition: $10,800 | Monthly Tuition: $900
• 2 Days – Annual Tuition: $8,275 | Monthly Tuition: $690

2026–2027 ELC Tuition

Buds Program

• Full Time – Annual Tuition: $18,750 | Monthly Tuition: $1,563
• 3 Days – Annual Tuition: $12,500 | Monthly Tuition: $1,042
• 2 Days – Annual Tuition: $9,500 | Monthly Tuition: $792

Blossoms Program

• Full Time – Annual Tuition: $17,300 | Monthly Tuition: $1,442
• 3 Days – Annual Tuition: $11,500 | Monthly Tuition: $958
• 2 Days – Annual Tuition: $8,750 | Monthly Tuition: $729

No, your child does not need to be potty trained prior to entering the ELC. Families are encouraged to begin the potty training process when their child is developmentally ready. We are committed to working with parents during their child’s potty training transition.

The primary factors are available space, the child’s age, and an assessment of the child’s developmental readiness. A final determination will be made in conjunction with the parents and ELC staff. Our transition periods typically occur in January, June, and September each year.

Please fill out this Inquiry Form to express your interest and share your contact information with us so that we can include you on our communication list.

The ELC is intended to support the need for quality childcare in the Grand Rapids community and remain committed to the mission of Grand Rapids Christian Schools. Registrations will be recorded and filtered using the following data:

• Families who demonstrate a commitment to GRCS for the long term
• Sibling preference (Do you have a sibling in the district already?)
• Submission date and time recorded

We would love to welcome every family as soon as possible. Currently, our Buds classrooms have a typical waitpool period of one to one-and-a-half years. Blossoms placements often open up more quickly, depending on seasonal transitions and your child’s birthday. While we can’t pinpoint a precise date due to the “puzzle” of enrollment, we will notify you the moment a spot becomes available for your child.

Our ELC families will benefit from early enrollment opportunities for preschool at all three of our preschool campuses. Preschool admission is a separate process and it is not guaranteed. However, priority is given to families who are committed to GRCS for the long term and who currently have siblings already in the system.

Tours are held on the 3rd Thursday of each month from 8:30–9:30 and the last Friday of each month from 10 am–11 am. If these times do not work for you, please let us know and we will try our best to accommodate.

To secure your place in our waitpool, there is a $100 registration fee. If we aren’t able to offer your child enrollment before they age out of our program, please know that this fee is fully refundable upon your request.