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SKC’s Division of Education offers two distinct tracks for professional careers in early learning:

 

• Early Childhood Education  (A.A. and B.S. degrees)

This program addresses infant and child development and learning methodologies ranging from birth through age eight. The ECE program prepares candidates to teach in early learning settings (Head Start centers, child care facilities, and other settings) that serve young children. The program emphasizes connections with families and communities, promotes developmentally appropriate practices, and strongly supports the integration of culture and language in curriculum and teaching practice. Candidates follow an instructional program and assessment system that is aligned with standards developed by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). Click here to learn more about these important educator preparation standards, or access more information using NAEYC’s standards website.

To view the courses associated with SKC’s Early Childhood Education (Birth to age 8), click here or use the navigation menu above to access the ECE Curriculum.

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• Early Childhood Education: P-3  (A.A. and B.S. degrees)

With SKC’s ECE: P-3 program, candidates can earn a license for professional teaching with a teaching endorsement (licensure) in preschool through third grade levels in Montana. As it has become more clear that primary-age students have unique needs in terms of development, classroom management, curriculum, and instructional practice, the state’s Office of Public Instruction recently reconfigured its certification requirements to include a preschool-grade 3 endorsement. Many Montana school districts now support their own public preschool classrooms, and this degree program prepares candidates to meet this need. Although both SKC’s Division of Education and Montana’s OPI will continue to offer the traditional K-8 Elementary endorsement, this new program addresses the specific needs of preschool and early elementary students. Similar to SKC’s Elementary Teacher Education Program, ECE: P-3 candidates’ program of study is aligned with national InTASC Standards with regard to instruction and assessment. These standards can be reviewed by clicking here.

To view the courses and degree plans associated with SKC’s Early Childhood Education: P-3 program (Preschool – Grade 3), click here or use the navigation menu above to access the ECE P-3 Curriculum.

 

Requirements for Early Childhood Education and ECE: P-3 students:

• Students must submit to a federal background check for the Early Childhood Education programs.
• Associate of Arts Degree: Students must receive a “C” or better in all required courses while maintaining an overall grade point average of 2.0 to graduate.
• Bachelor of Science Degree: Students must maintain a “B” average or better in all upper-level required education courses and a grade no lower than a “C” in all required courses. Students must maintain an overall 2.75 grade point average to graduate.

 

Current ECE Students: To access important documents associated with ECE, click here.

For more information about SKC’s Early Childhood programs, contact the Early Childhood Education Co-Department Heads:

• • • Manda Davis – (406) 275-4771      manda_davis@skc.edu
    • Leigh Ann Courville – (406) 275-4770    leighann_courville@skc.edu

To access the Early Childhood / Elementary Education page, click here.