For all incentive awards, please mail or fax your W9 to ECP according to the following instructions. We cannot guarantee the security of your information if you upload or email your W9.
Fax: 406-404-1627
Mail:
ECP/MSU
PO Box 173540
Bozeman MT 59717
Governor Gianforte and the Health Advisory Commission approved $7 Million in one-time-only funds for child care workforce retention and incentive payments through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). Providers who received $600 for Round 1 and are still employed in an eligible position will receive a second payment of $1,000 in February-March 2023. New child care professionals are eligible to submit December 1, 2022 through January 20, 2023 for a one-time payment of $600.
Deadline For Round 2 WAS January 20, 2023
Deadline for Round 1 WAS March 18, 2022
National Association for Family Child Care (NAFCC) Accreditation
The intent of this scholarship program to promote NAFCC accreditation for state registered family and group child care homes. See the application below for criteria and how to apply.
Step 1: NAFCC Accreditation Scholarship
Step 2: NAFCC Accreditation Scholarship
Renewal: NAFCC Accreditation Scholarship
National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) Accreditation
The NAEYC accreditation process is designed for child care centers, preschools, school-age programs, and kindergartens. Scholarships are available to help pay the costs of the four steps in the NAEYC accreditation process and for the Annual Report fee.
Apply for this scholarship when you begin the application process with NAEYC. The Montana application for initial and renewal scholarships requests itemization of all accreditation costs. Please contact NAEYC to verify the costs of accreditation for your program. For more information about NAEYC accreditation visit their website.
STEP 1 Accreditation Scholarship
STEP 2 Accreditation Scholarship
STEP 3 and 4 Accreditation Scholarship
ANNUAL REPORT Scholarship
Did you join the Practitioner Registry at Membership status and complete your high school equivalency (HiSET or GED)? In order to qualify you must be current on the registry at membership level and achieve a GED or HISET. If you meet all of the requirements you may qualify for the $200 award. Apply for this award by logging in to your registry account and selecting the Incentives and Awards tab.
This award has been developed with the goal of improving the quality of early care and education for young
children and families, by promoting early childhood education college coursework, college certificate, and degree
attainment. PDIA—HE participants may receive $1000 for completion of a minimum of 6 early childhood credits or
$400 for completion of 2-5 early childhood credits.
In order to qualify for the award applicants must meet the following requirements:
1. An individual must have a current Practitioner Registry Certificate at the time of application. ECP will check your registry status online upon receipt of your application.
2. Applicants must currently work a minimum of 15 hours per week in one of the following settings. Settings must be licensed with the state of Montana.
3. The following education will qualify:
ECSB will not be awarding incentives for the 60 hour Infant Toddler and MT Preschool Teacher Education courses after June 15 since those courses have been discontinued. If you took those classes within the past year and have not already submitted an application for payment, please submit your application under the Incentives and Awards tab in your registry account by June 15, 2023. Classes that were taken more than a year before your submission will not be accepted. If the Infant Toddler class is taken through a college for a degree after the Fall 2022 semester, it can be submitted for a PDIA-HE award.
These awards have been developed with the goal of improving the quality of early care and education for young
children and families, by promoting participation in one of the 60 hour classes. Applicants must have completed either the 60 hour Infant Toddler class or the 60 hour MT Preschool Teacher Education class to receive the award. Applications should be submitted within three months of completing the class and will not be accepted if a year has passed since course completion.
In order to qualify for the award, applicants must meet the following requirements:
1. An individual must have a current Practitioner Registry Certificate at the time of application. ECP will check your registry status online upon receipt of your application.
2. Applicants must currently work a minimum of 15 hours per week in one of the following settings. Settings must be licensed with the state of Montana.
About
The Montana Early Childhood Apprenticeship Program (MECAP) aims to support and increase retention of early childhood education (ECE) providers through on-the-job training, mentorship, and college coursework. Upon completing the program, apprentices are awarded the Child Care Development Specialist Certificate from Montana’s Department of Labor and Industry and reach Level 4 on the Montana Practitioner Registry. MECAP is a Registered Apprenticeship Program (RAP). A RAP is a government-run, on-the-job, paid training program model that is validated through the U.S. Department of Labor or a state agency. Traditionally, RAPs have been developed to support a range of industries and occupations across the country, including skilled trade-related occupations (e.g., electricians or carpenters).
The traditional RAP model combines four core components:
To develop a RAP targeting the ECE workforce, Montana’s Department of Labor and the Early Childhood Services Bureau combined their expertise to create MECAP. MECAP is one of only a few Registered Apprenticeship Programs in the country developed for the ECE workforce.
Facts about MECAP
Montana Universities offering apprenticeship eligible courses:
**colleges/universities with an online option for completing apprenticeship courses.
Earn while you learn.
Financial incentives for those participating in an apprenticeship program (per semester):
*apprentices must earn a 3.0 GPA or higher in all college course work. Apprentices are eligible for up to $3000 total in incentive funding
Benefits of completing an apprenticeship:
Is an apprenticeship right for me?
The apprentice must:
Currently Under Revision