Project ELLO empowers caregivers to turn everyday routines—like shopping, doing laundry, or riding the bus—into opportunities for rich conversation and language growth. Local partnerships, such as hELLO Missoula, bring this work into community spaces families know best. By reminding caregivers that “talking is free,” ELLO builds strong foundations for children’s learning. [Read more ➜]

Missoula Reads is a new community coalition bringing partners together to strengthen literacy skills and enrich the literacy lives of Missoula County residents. The group meets quarterly to share data, amplify one another’s work, and collaborate on literacy projects. An upcoming focus will be hELLO Missoula, highlighting local spaces for family learning. [Read more ➜]

The University of Montana’s LAB School and Missoula County Public Schools are piloting a co-teaching model to create inclusive classrooms and shared professional learning opportunities. Learning walks and reflective practice sessions allow educators to see high-quality instruction in action. This partnership demonstrates what’s possible when higher education and public schools collaborate. [Read more ➜]

Now in its fifth year, the Missoula Early Learning Fellows connect leaders across early childhood and K–12 to ensure every child arrives at kindergarten ready to thrive. Fellows engage in professional learning, build community, and create action plans informed by data. This work is expanding statewide, with Bozeman launching its first Fellows group in 2025. [Read more ➜]

MECHEC is a statewide collaboration of higher education faculty dedicated to preparing and supporting early childhood educators. The consortium lends expertise to initiatives like teacher licensure, literacy interventions, and standards revision, while aligning programs to NAEYC standards. Together, MECHEC advances a skilled, connected early childhood workforce for Montana. [Read more ➜]