The Early Childhood Project manages the Montana Early Care and Education Career Development programs.  This includes The Practitioner Registry, the Training Approval and Records System, the Trainer Directory, scholarships for program accreditation and Child Development Associate (CDA) assessment. The ECP conducts research and works closely with partners to enhance professional development opportunities across the state and nationally.

The goals of career development are to:

• Define what practitioners need to know to enhance and improve their work with young children and families.
• Develop a formalized multi-leveled education and training framework for the early childhood profession.
• Ensure that training is high quality and meets the needs of practitioners.
• Provide equal access to education and training through innovative delivery and a coordinated system of planning, promoting and implementing learning opportunities.
• Promote recognition and increased compensation by formal documentation of practitioners' professional development.
• Help parents make informed choices about early care and education.
• Link professional development to other quality initiatives in Montana.

Career Development Advisory Board

The Advisory Board grew out of the initial task force convened to envision and plan for an Early Care and Education Career Development program. The Board meets twice each year and the representation includes:

• Montana Child Care Resource and Referral Network
• Higher Education
• Montana Child Care Association
• Montana Association for the Education of Young Children
• Head Start State Collaboration Project
• Head Start Association
• Child Care plus+ Center on Inclusion in Early Childhood (UM)
• Child and Adult Care Food Program
• Montana Department of Labor and Industry
  • Apprenticeship Program and Training
• Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services
  • Early Childhood Services Bureau
  • Quality Assurance Division
• Office of Public Instruction
• Public Health

  Updated 3/9/2009