The Montana Early Childhood Higher Education Consortium (MECHEC) is a collaboration of higher education faculty leaders from Montana’s tribal colleges, community colleges, and four-year public and private universities. Together, we prepare and support early childhood educators working with children from birth through age eight. MECHEC recognizes and values early care and education as a skilled profession, and works to strengthen the field through teaching, research, and service.

MECHEC brings faculty expertise to key statewide early childhood initiatives, ensuring higher education has a voice in shaping the profession. Our involvement includes:

• P–3 teacher licensure and educator preparation

• Apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs

• Early literacy intervention classrooms

• Bright Futures Birth–Five (BFB5) grant and strategic plan

• Montana Early Learning Standards (MELS) revision

• Career Pathways development

• Statewide resource and referral network

 
We also connect and support one another across institutions, sharing best practices and strengthening the professional preparation pipeline for infant, toddler, preschool, and early elementary teachers.

MECHEC’s work is grounded in the Montana Early Childhood Education Knowledge Base, which includes:

• Child development

• Family and community partnerships

• Observation, documentation, and assessment

• Teaching and engagement

• Curriculum and learning environments

• Professionalism

 
This foundation aligns with the NAEYC mission to promote high-quality early learning for all children by connecting practice, policy, and research. MECHEC advances a diverse, dynamic early childhood profession and supports those who care for, educate, and advocate for young children and families.

MECHEC members contribute at local, state, national, and international levels, demonstrating our commitment to advancing the profession. Our academic programs and coursework prepare the next generation of early childhood educators while also shaping the broader systems that support them.

For more information please contact MECHEC Co-Leads, Drs. Christine Lux and Allison Wilson