Dive Brief:
- An early education teacher endorsement plan introduced by Montana Gov. Steve Bullock and state Superintendent of Public Instruction Denise Juneau hints at plans to create a universal pre-K program once legislative funding is available.
- Montana is one of eight states without universal, publicly-funded pre-K programs.
- According to Juneau, the Board of Public Education and the Office of the Commissioner of Higher Education are collaborating to create three plans for if and when universal pre-K is approved.
Dive Insight:
The plans the Board of Public Education and the Office of the Commissioner of Higher Education are working to create include: a teacher endorsement program to ensure that pre-K teachers are accredited and highly-qualified, like their K-12 peers; minimum requirements for state accreditation standards; and collegiate standards that allow student teachers to receive credit, as well.