STARS Montana Early Education Program

The Montana constitution says, “It is the goal of the people to establish a system of education which will develop the full educational potential of each person. Equality of educational opportunity is guaranteed to each person of the state. The Legislature shall provide a basic system of free quality public elementary and secondary schools.”

There’s plenty of time left in the legislative session to put money for pre-K education back in the state budget.

Sixth-grade preschool alums scored about 9 percent higher on state tests than those who hadn’t attended, and third-grade alums scored 13 percent higher than their peers.”

Republican Rep. Llew Jones is the chair of the education subcommittee. He says it wouldn’t make sense to set aside money for a program that isn’t in place.

After her months-long series of meetings, Solorzano said she was presented with several funding focal points. However, most of her conversations circled back to one area with room for improvement: early childhood care and education.

“There is no longer any doubt that public preschool is a win-win: It helps our kids and bolsters our state’s economy. I have faith that lawmakers on both sides of the aisle will support this bill and do right by Montana families.”

It will go toward research, outreach and training to better understand and improve Montana’s existing preschool system.