Montana Accreditation Mentorship Program
Supporting Your Accreditation Journey
The Montana Accreditation Mentorship Program helps early childhood providers navigate the national accreditation process through mentorship, shared learning, practical resources, and connections to financial assistance.
Our goal is to make accreditation more accessible, achievable, and supportive for programs throughout Montana.
What Does the Program Offer?
Individualized Mentorship
Connect with an experienced early childhood professional who can provide guidance, answer questions, help you navigate accreditation requirements, and support you as you work toward your goals.
Cohort Learning Opportunities
Join other Montana providers working toward accreditation. Cohorts provide opportunities to explore accreditation standards, share resources, discuss challenges, celebrate progress, and learn together.
Resources and Technical Guidance
Access accreditation tools, self-assessment resources, guidance on documentation, and connections to statewide partners who can help strengthen your program's readiness.
Financial Support Opportunities
Participating programs may have access to financial assistance and incentives to help reduce barriers to accreditation. Supports may include accreditation-related expenses, professional learning opportunities, and other resources, depending on available funding and program requirements.
Who Can Participate?
The Montana Accreditation Mentorship Program supports Montana early childhood programs pursuing accreditation through:
NAEYC: Early learning programs across diverse settings, including family and group child care programs, preschools, and child care centers.
NAFCC: Home-based family child care programs that meet NAFCC eligibility requirements.
Programs at different stages of the accreditation journey are encouraged to reach out, including those exploring NAEYC Recognition, progressing toward NAEYC Accreditation or Accreditation Plus, or beginning the NAFCC process.
Is Your Program Ready?
You don't need to have everything figured out before contacting us!
Programs formally enrolling in a mentorship match or cohort should have foundational quality practices in place and be ready to commit time and effort toward the accreditation process.
If your program isn't quite ready, that's okay. We can help you better understand accreditation expectations and connect you with resources and partners to strengthen your readiness.
How Does Participation Work?
1. Connect With Us
Reach out to the Accreditation Manager to share your interest, ask questions, and learn about available opportunities.
2. Explore Your Goals and Readiness
We'll discuss your program, accreditation pathway, current practices, and what support might be most helpful.
3. Find the Right Support
Depending on your needs and available opportunities, you may join a cohort, be matched with an individual mentor, or receive referrals to readiness resources.
4. Begin Your Accreditation Journey
Work toward meaningful accreditation milestones with guidance, encouragement, and connections to resources along the way.
Contact Mtaeyc's Accreditation Manager:
Email: accreditation@mtaeyc.org
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Montana Accreditation Mentorship Program?
The Montana Accreditation Mentorship Program is a free initiative offered through Mtaeyc to support Montana early childhood programs pursuing national accreditation through NAEYC or NAFCC. The program offers individualized mentorship, cohort learning, resources, and connections to financial assistance to help providers navigate the accreditation process.
What is early childhood program accreditation?
National accreditation is a voluntary process through which early childhood programs demonstrate their commitment to quality standards beyond basic licensing requirements. It provides opportunities for reflection, continuous improvement, and recognition of the high-quality practices happening in early childhood settings.
What is the difference between NAEYC and NAFCC accreditation?
NAEYC (National Association for the Education of Young Children) offers Recognition, Accreditation, and Accreditation Plus pathways for qualifying early learning programs across a variety of settings.
NAFCC (National Association for Family Child Care) offers accreditation specifically designed for qualifying home-based family child care programs.
Both pathways emphasize quality practices, professional growth, and positive experiences for children and families.
How do I know which accreditation pathway is best for my program?
You don't have to figure that out alone! Mtaeyc's Accreditation Manager can help you explore the different pathways based on your program's setting, structure, current practices, and goals.
Some programs may have more than one option, while others may be better suited to a specific pathway. We'll help you understand the requirements and identify a good starting point.
Who can participate in the Montana Accreditation Mentorship Program?
Montana early childhood programs interested in pursuing NAEYC or NAFCC accreditation are encouraged to connect with us.
This includes qualifying child care centers, preschools, family and group child care programs, and other early learning settings.
Participation in a formal mentorship match or cohort depends on program readiness, commitment, and available opportunities.
Is the program free?
Yes! Individualized mentorship and cohort learning opportunities are provided at no cost to participating Montana programs.
There may be separate costs associated with the national accreditation process, but financial assistance opportunities may be available.
Do I need to be ready to apply for accreditation before joining?
Not necessarily! You don't have to be ready to submit an accreditation application to begin exploring the process.
However, programs formally enrolling in a cohort or mentorship match should have a foundation of quality practices in place and be prepared to dedicate time and effort toward accreditation goals.
If your program isn't quite ready, the Accreditation Manager can help you identify resources and partners to support your next steps.
What kind of support will I receive?
Support is tailored to your program's needs and may include:
Guidance from an experienced accreditation mentor
Cohort meetings with other Montana providers
Assistance understanding accreditation standards and assessment items
Support with self-assessment, documentation, and goal setting
Access to resources, professional learning opportunities, and statewide partners
Information about available financial assistance
The goal is to provide practical, encouraging support as your program works toward accreditation milestones.
Are financial supports available?
Yes! Financial assistance and incentives may be available to help participating programs reduce barriers to accreditation.
Depending on funding and program requirements, supports may include accreditation-related expenses, professional development opportunities, resources, and other incentives.
Mtaeyc can also help connect providers with external scholarship opportunities.
Do I have to be enrolled in a cohort or mentorship match to access financial benefits?
Yes. Financial benefits offered specifically through Mtaeyc's Montana Accreditation Mentorship Program require active enrollment in a cohort or individual mentorship match.
This helps ensure participating programs have ongoing support as they work toward accreditation goals.
Other scholarship opportunities offered through outside organizations may have different eligibility requirements.
How long does the accreditation process take?
The timeline varies depending on the accreditation pathway, your program's starting point, and the work needed to meet national standards.
Some programs may be ready to move through the process more quickly, while others may need additional time to strengthen practices, complete self-assessments, or gather documentation.
The mentorship program helps providers establish realistic goals and make steady progress.
Can I participate if my program is already NAEYC Recognized?
Absolutely! Programs that have achieved NAEYC Recognition and are ready to work toward Accreditation or Accreditation Plus are encouraged to participate.
Mentorship and cohort opportunities can help programs build upon their progress and navigate the next steps.
Do I have to participate in a cohort?
No! While cohorts offer valuable opportunities for shared learning and collaboration, they aren't the only option.
Depending on your program's needs and available mentor capacity, you may be matched with an individual mentor for more personalized support.
We'll work together to determine which option is the best fit.
How do I get started?
Getting started is simple! Contact Mtaeyc's Accreditation Manager to schedule an initial conversation.
We'll learn more about your program, discuss your accreditation interests and readiness, answer questions, and explore available mentorship or cohort opportunities.
You don't have to know exactly where to begin. That's what we're here for!
Ready to Explore Accreditation?
Whether you're ready to begin the accreditation process or just want to learn more, we'd love to connect.
Contact Mtaeyc's Accreditation Manager:
Email: accreditation@mtaeyc.org
Your accreditation journey starts with a conversation!