STARS Montana Early Education Program

"It’s a huge step toward a vision for a comprehensive early learning system that will make Washington a leader in doing the right thing for our youngest children. I hope more states will answer President Obama’s call to expand early learning opportunities – and that Congress will support them." U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan

The beautiful clip showing the pure joy on the faces of both the young and old show what a perfect environment it is for both. Their interaction is absolutely precious and we hope this idea can spread across our country. The impact of it can likely be more far reaching than we could ever imagine!

Early education is a proven way to help children succeed, but a key challenge for policymakers is figuring how to pay for these programs.

Governor Bullock says Montana is one of a handful of states that’s not investing in this area.

"We know readers begin in the laps of their parents."

What’s a StoryWalk? Children go for a walk and stop along the way where the pages of a book are posted so they can hear the story read aloud — or read it themselves or to a younger sibling.

"…I can tell you there’s nothing more important than that development of that brain in the first four years of life." Alabama Governor Robert Bentley

The investment tool is catching on as a better, safer way to invest scarce public resources.

"Nationwide, state funding for pre-K increased by $672 million, to a total of $6.3 billion. This is a 12 percent increase in state investment in pre-K programs over fiscal year 2013-14."

"Although education and the acquisition of skills is a lifelong process, starting early in life is crucial. Recent research–some sponsored by the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis in collaboration with the
University of Minnesota–has documented the high returns that early childhood programs can pay in terms of subsequent educational attainment and in lower rates of social problems, such as teenage pregnancy and welfare dependency."