Gov. Steve Bullock visited Columbia Falls School District Thursday to discuss the needs and challenges of preparing children for school.

After learning about some of the special education programming and services the district offers, Bullock sat down with teachers and staff for a roundtable discussion at the district administration building.

Participating in the discussion were Terri Burghardt, special education coordinator for the district, and Ruder Elementary school staff members Nicolette Bales, kindergarten teacher; Michelle Swank, special education teacher; and Principal Brenda Krueger.

The focus of the conversation was the benefits of kindergartners who have had early-childhood education versus children who have not had that exposure. Early childhood is considered children ages 0 to 5.

Bullock said there needs to be a state investment in early-childhood education.

“We’re only one of 10 states in the country that does not make an investment in early-childhood education,” Bullock said. “It’s something we need to be looking at and we need to do better.”

He asked staff members how much of an impact pre-kindergarten makes in a child’s education.

Most agreed that pre-kindergarten was crucial to create a foundation that prepares children for success both academically and socially. A student who enters kindergarten without understanding basic concepts of following directions and recognizing or writing letters and numbers can be a setback that may lead to a frustrating first experience with school.

“Is school going to be something you want to continue with for the rest of your life?” Bales said about that critical first experience.

There are limited options for enrolling children in preschool programming in Columbia Falls. Staff members could only think of one preschool program in Columbia Falls. Currently, the district’s only preschool program serves students with disabilities.

When the discussion wrapped up, staff members expressed their appreciation for Bullock’s interest in education and visiting the district, and he thanked them for their work.

Bullock has visited roughly 30 schools this year.

“In having a discussion with kindergarten teachers that our kids enter school at all different levels, which not only makes it challenging for teachers, but also challenging for the kids, so we need to do what we can to be investing in education to make sure the child has a good start at age 5,” Bullock said. “The funding level [for early childhood education] at the state is 0.”

Early childhood education is an economic investment, Bullock added.

“Economic studies say there a $7 to $1 return,” Bullock said.