EXCERPT FROM: KAJ18.com
By Irina Cates
MISSOULA- Early childhood advocates in Missoula want fingerprint background checks to be a requirement for everyone in Montana working in daycares. They hope this will prevent sex or violent offenders from being hired to provide child care.
EXCERPT FROM: Billings Gazette
By Zach Benoit
The Billings Catholic Schools' early-childhood education program is operating in the black again after struggling for the past few years.
EXCERPT FROM: Billings Gazette
By Rob Rogers
Montana wants to improve day care.
Starting with the new year, a small group of Montana child care providers will pilot a new state program meant to enhance the quality of care that children receive in day care and preschool.
EXCERPT FROM: Billings Gazette
By Jennifer McKee
HELENA — Led by one of Montana’s most successful industrialists, a group of nonprofits has launched a drive to bring large private donations to Montana’s cash-strapped early childhood educational system — where the average teacher makes less than $17,000 a year.
EXCERPT FROM: KRTV News
By Alex Grubb
Working parents in Montana may be able to get a break on their taxes when it comes to daycare expenses.
EXCERPT FROM: Missoulian
By Tristan Scott
Allegations of sexual abuse at a Missoula child care facility betray shortfalls in the state’s licensing requirements, and local and national advocates are calling for improved oversight.
EXCERPT FROM: Missoulian
By Jennifer McKee
HELENA - If the state goes ahead with plans to cancel a $230,000 increase in child care subsidies next year, kids from poorer working families will be priced out of some child care centers and preschools, providers say.
HELENA - More than 200,000 Montana children require some kind of child care almost every day. Together, their ranks number almost twice the population of the state's largest city. Some of these children will spend more waking hours with a paid caregiver than with their own parents.
Earlier this week, we told you that the Missoula County School Board eliminated the Young Families program at Missoula's Sentinel High School, which didn't survive the budget ax.
Daycare is often the second biggest monthly expense in the family budget, behind the mortgage or rent, and as we found out, childcare is not a recession proof industry.