Quality Resources
The Early Childhood Quality Improvement Resources page is designed to support your commitment to high quality education and care. You will find tools, information, and best practices to enhance the learning environment and developmental outcomes for young children as well as family and community engagement strategies.
Business Practices
- Budget and Cost of Care
- Tax Resources
- Quality Improvement Action Plans
- Staffing
- Professional Development
- Child Care Providers’ Strategies to Support Inclusion
- ADA Guide
- HIPAA Brochure
- HES 103-A Conditional Attendance Form
- Primary Caregiver Expectations
- Sample Breast Feeding Policy
- Sample Contract
- Sample Handbook
- Sample Transition Plan
- Successful Tours
- Ratios
- NAEYC Ratio Chart
- Preparing Your Environment to Support Breast Feeding
- Aligning Program Practices
Curriculum and Instruction
- Pyramid Model
- Montana Early Learning Standards
- Creating Teaching Tools for Young Children Guide
- Important Milestones
- Practical Strategies for Teachers
- Methods of Observation
- Portfolios & the Power of Documentation
- Behavior Log
- Individual Observation Checklist
Family and Community
- Best Beginnings Child Care Scholarship
- Individualized Personal Care Plan - Infants and Toddlers
- Individualized Personal Care Plan – Preschoolers
- NAEYC Partnerships for Learning: Conferencing with Families
- 20 Steps to a Full Partnership
- 20 Steps to Partnership Checklist
- Inviting Parent Participation
- Offering Family Involvement Opportunities
- Positive Solutions for Families Brochure
- Community Resources
- Program Family Involvement Opportunities Checklist
- Parent Partnership
- Note for Parents Regarding Primary Caregiving
- Sample Transition Plan
- Transitioning Children Out of Child Care
- Transitions to New Age Group
- Preschool Partnership
Health and Safety
- Health Practices
- Immunization Program Letter
- Immunization Requirements by Age for Child Care
- Chickenpox Documentation Form
- Be a Healthy Role Model Tip Sheet
- Health Habits for Life – Every Day Is a Healthy Day
- Healthy Habits for Life – Get Moving
- Healthy Habits for Life Resource Kit Introduction
- Daily Health Check Resources
- Safety Practices
- Nutrition
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- CACFP Website Flyer
- About the CACFP Meal Pattern Tip Sheet
- Family Style Meal Service - CACFP Policy
- Family Style Meals - USDA Resource
- Family Style Dining Article
- Feeding Children in Child Care
- Ellyn Satter Division of Responsibility in Feeding Children Poster
- Menu Planning for Childcare Facilities
- Special Dietary Needs Statement
- Health Habits for Life – Food & Drink to Grow On
- Preventing Obesity in Early Childhood
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- Caring for Our Children – download the book
Environment
- The Dirty Dozen: Twelve Playground Hazards
- MT Playground Information Sheet
- Top Ten Questions about the Environment Rating Scale Assessment
- Screen Smart Tips
Accreditation
- Child Care Centers
- Family/Group Programs