Montana legislators are gearing up to tackle crucial challenges in the K-12 education system, including raising teacher salaries, enhancing school funding, and improving early math skills among students. Low starting wages for new educators contribute significantly to Montana’s persistent teacher shortage, making recruitment difficult for many school districts.
Key legislative proposals aim to address this issue. Rep. Llew Jones, R-Conrad, is advocating the STARS Act, which seeks to utilize Montana’s school funding formula to increase early career educators’ salaries. Meanwhile, Rep. David Bedey, R-Hamilton, has introduced a bill to alleviate local funding pressure by spreading the burden countywide, rather than on specific school districts.
House Democrats have proposed using state lottery revenues to fund public schools and increasing per-pupil state payment rates for sixth graders to match those of other middle school grades. Rep. Connie Keogh, D-Missoula, highlighted the challenge of bolstering school funding without overburdening taxpayers, expressing confidence in collaborative solutions.
In addition to funding, the focus is on early math skills. Rep. Melissa Romano, D-Helena, aims to expand pre-kindergarten interventions to include early childhood numeracy, addressing concerns over declining math performance and the need for remedial courses at state colleges. State Superintendent Susie Hedalen, a former kindergarten teacher, emphasized the importance of foundational math skills for student success.
Hedalen also noted the legislature will address increased costs to districts following a new math graduation requirement, and efforts are underway to tailor courses for students pursuing trade education. Sen. John Fuller, R-Kalispell, predicts early numeracy and teacher pay will dominate the education agenda, along with policies on school choice and public school board powers.
Proposals are emerging to expand education savings accounts and adjust oversight of “community choice” schools, continuing last session’s significant advancements for school choice in Montana. Other legislative efforts include a “teachers’ bill of rights” and codifying classroom management protocols. Lawmakers are also exploring mandates for displaying the Ten Commandments in schools and rights concerning student data privacy.
With diverse proposals on the table this session, legislators and education leaders like Hedalen are prepared to play active roles, prioritizing student safety, mental health, and infrastructure funding. Montana School Boards Association Executive Director Lance Melton stressed the importance of local school board governance and strategic action tailored to community needs, amidst rising local budget gaps and high inflation. Melton advised against one-size-fits-all solutions, underscoring the value of locally responsive governance.
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