New guidelines offered for early learning

This month local parents and educators have a chance to offer input on a draft of new state learning guidelines for children ages 3-5.

The guidelines range from learning how to count and learn word sounds to being able to participate in physical play and sing favorite songs.

The guidelines came out of Good Start, Grow Smart, the early childhood portion of No Child Left Behind, President Bush's sweeping education reform law. They prescribe what students should know by the time they enter kindergarten. A task force of representatives from a variety of Montana childhood and education organization...