Board approves standards for Early Edge pre-K education

Staff and wire report

The Montana Board of Public Education approved Friday standards that will be a part of Gov. Steve Bullock’s Early Edge plan, if legislature approves the funding for it in 2015.

According to a press release from the governor’s office, the standards they approved were:

• Set a class size limit of 18 students

• Set a minimum number of hours required for a preschool program

• Describe what children should know and be able to do in order to be prepared for Kindergarten

• Create the early childhood educator license

• Establish early childhood educator preparatory standards

Bullock announced last month that in his budget proposal for the 2015 legislature, he would push for funds for grants for local school boards to be able to create pre-kindergarten programs. The school boards will have the choice to create a program from the ground up or partner with an already-existing program.

“It is important that our earliest learners have access to a high-quality education that prepares them to be successful in Kindergarten,” said Denise Juneau, state super intendent of public instruction, in the press release. “When students step into their Kindergarten class prepared and ready to learn, there is no end to what they will accomplish in their elementary and high school careers. Montana’s public education system is ready to take this step.”

Montana is currently one of the eight states that does not have an early education program.

According to the press release, studies have shown benefits the come from high-quality early education programs for 4-year-olds include the children being more likely to read at grade level and eventually earn a high school diploma and less likely to repeat a grade, require early education, become teenage parents, require public assistance, abuse drugs or go to jail.