ACTION PLAN

Briefly describe the priority need you selected as the basis for your Capstone Project Action Plan.

The priority need I selected as the basis of my Capstone Project Action Plan is access to public pre-k in the state of Montana, focusing on understanding past and current pre-k funding as well as barriers to increasing access to publicly-funded pre-k.

Describe “what is” based on your needs assessment.

-Only 18% of four-year-olds in Montana were served by Head Start or another federally/state-funded pre-k program (IEPs served under IDEA and ANB).

-There is no permanent, state-funded public pre-k option in the state of Montana

-There are waitlists at multiple Head Start programs and ANB/IDEA-funded programs

-The need for affordable, quality pre-k education opportunities far outnumbers the existing opportunities

Identify Major Concerns

-Financial burden of pre-k in Montana

-Students going without pre-k because of financial burden

-Lack of opportunities for ECE leading to greater educational inequity and disparities even before entrance into elementary grades

-School serves as a jumping-off point for many other supportive services such as parenting support, food insecurity support, housing support, etc. and without it many families may be unaware of supportive resources they might otherwise choose to utilize.

-Existing program (Waterford Upstart) does not meet SEL needs and may not even support both ELA and Math needs (one or the other)

Decide Preliminary Priorities

-Identify source of funding for Jefferson at MCPS

-Meet with Rob Watson to discuss current pre-k needs and existing program. Ask if the district has considered using COVID as a reason to offer all 4-year-olds public pre-k, and if not, what the barriers to this are.

-Ask Rob Watson how I can support increasing public pre-k/ECE opportunities in Missoula

-Share information with other stakeholders (colleagues, other teachers during ECE/kindergarten trainings)

Determine Needs Indicators

-Fewer than a quarter of Montana 4-year-olds have access to public pre-k options

-Childcare costs more than $7,500 for one 4y/o child on average in Montana (source)

-Per capita income in MT was $31,151 in 2019, with 12.6% of the population living below the poverty line (source)

-Anecdotal evidence from conversations with parents of former students, colleagues, school administrators

Identify Data Sources

KEA data (United Way of Missoula), survey data and responses, anecdotal responses (from conversations), MSTBA, NIEER (2020 report), NIEER (2019 report), MT Leg, United Way's Zero to Five Initiative, Head Start

List Allies

United Way of Missoula, Head Start of Missoula, MCPS, MFPE (including Sarah Piper and Amanda Curtis), MSU (including Christine Lux), and UM.

List Opponents

-State government (Governor’s office, both legislative bodies, state Superintendent of Public Instruction), possibly private pre-k and childcare providers