Central ND News

The University of Mary is addressing the shortage of licensed childcare facilities in Bismarck, North Dakota, with a new Center for Early Learning (CEL). The center will open on June 1, 2025, following renovations funded by a $464,000 grant from the North Dakota Department of Commerce. The CEL aims to provide early care and education options for working parents.

Jennifer Barry, director of the University of Mary Center for Early Learning, emphasized the importance of high-quality early childhood environments. "We’re providing a service that’s desperately needed," she stated. The center will offer a Montessori-inspired curriculum rooted in Christian, Catholic, and Benedictine values.

The Liffrig Family School of Education and Behavioral Sciences and the Saint Gianna School of Health Sciences are collaborating on this project. The CEL will accommodate 70 to 80 children aged eight weeks to 12 years. It will also provide on-site screening and interventions through partnerships with various health programs.

Dr. Kim Marman highlighted the practical learning opportunities for university students at this facility. "This becomes an observation setting where students can go in and observe behaviors in different children," Marman explained.

The CEL will participate in the North Dakota Child Care Assistance Program to help income-eligible families cover childcare costs. Addressing childcare shortages is a priority for local government bodies due to unmet demand in Burleigh and Morton counties.

Barry added that the center aims to support entire families by offering parental education opportunities aligned with Benedictine values. This initiative reflects discussions over many years about establishing a university-affiliated early learning center.

As preparations continue, interest grows among families seeking enrollment at this new facility dedicated to both community service and student education.