Parking for Thursday Evening: The Summit begins at 4:00. You can use the Adams Center parking lot (LOT P on the map). The Passport app system is available to pay for short-term parking. If you are arriving at 5:00 or later, parking on campus is Free.
4/17 Friday Sessions: All Friday sessions will be held in the PJW College of Education, except for two held in adjacent buildings (signage will be displayed). Breakfast will begin at 8:00, and sessions will start promptly at 8:30.
4/18 Saturday Sessions: All Saturday sessions will take place in the PJW College of Education. Breakfast and registration will be available as early as 7:30 am. Sessions will begin at 8:15. Parking for Saturday Sessions: All parking is FREE. You may park anywhere on campus!
Travel: For those traveling from outside Missoula, book your hotel early! A limited number of discounted hotel rooms are available on a first-come, first-served basis at the Holiday Inn Missoula Downtown. You can use this link to book your rooms.Please usethe code ECE or call the hotel at 406-721-8550 and mention the code and ECE 4th Annual Summit.
Sign up or log in to add sessions to your schedule and sync them to your phone or calendar.
**ECP Credit Available** University Assisted Community Schools: Growing Together: Strengthening Early Childhood Systems Through University-Assisted Community Schools Early childhood is the foundational stage for all future learning, yet the weight of supporting both students and their families often falls solely on educators. This 101-level session introduces the University-Assisted Community School (UACS) model—a collaborative approach where higher education institutions partner with early learning and school systems to provide sustained support. Rather than a temporary project, this model creates a "win-win" ecosystem: universities provide expertise, student interns, and resources, while early childhood and school systems gain the capacity to better serve the whole child. We’ll explore how these partnerships can help achieve goals for student and family success by leveraging the unique assets of local or regional colleges and universities. · -The UACS Basics: Understand the core principles of the University-Assisted model and how it differs from traditional school partnerships. · -Mutual Benefits: Explore how university resources can align additional resources, expertise, and capacity to support early learning and school systems. · -Starting the Conversation: Identify practical ways to begin identifying and engaging potential higher education partners in your community to build a more supportive fabric for our youngest learners.
