Enroll Your Child in This Free Learning Program in Great Falls

Enroll Your Child in This Free Learning Program in Great Falls

In the 2023 legislative session in Montana, a new law was passed that allows districts to provide high-quality, early literacy targeted intervention programs for children to increase the percentage of children who are reading proficient by the end of 3rd grade.

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In Great Falls, the new program instituted because of this law is the Great Falls Public School Early Learning Center and Program.  The Early Learning Program will integrate high-quality, age appropriate, literacy instruction into all learning domains.

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Learn More About This Free Program for Students in Great Falls

As of now, the GFPS provides a Transitional Kindergarten program for children who meet criteria for Exceptional Circumstances.  Those circumstances include:

• age
• income eligibility
• tribal enrollment
• identified disability

However, because of the new law, criteria will no longer be considered after June 30, 2024, for the Transitional program.  According to GFPS, "The Special Education (IDEA) classroom criteria will remain the same.  Children ages 3-5, who are identified as meeting criteria and demonstrating a need for special education, are entitled to a free, appropriate, public education (FAPE)".

Signing Up Your Child Is Easy and Free in Great Falls

To enroll your child, children must be 4, on or before Sept. 10th, live within identified GFPS elementary school boundary areas, and demonstrate a delay in one or more of the literacy skills as identified within the law.

If you live within one of the following school areas, your child is eligible for screening:

• Giant Springs
• Lewis & Clark
• Longfellow
• Loy
• Mountain View
• West
• Sunnyside
• Whittier

To find out more, call the Early Learning Center at 406-268-6400 or you can find more at the Great Falls Public Schools website here.