Education

Montana lawmakers are showing bipartisan support for a plan to eliminate copayments for parents whose students qualify for reduced-price lunches; The National Science Foundation’s Chief Science Officer has accepted an offer to be Montana Tech’s new chancellor.

Gov. Greg Gianforte Tuesday signed a bill intended to help the state’s public schools recover money lost to inflation.

When voters authorized the Montana Lottery in 1986, the promise was that lottery revenues would be used for education funding. Now, with schools facing budget woes and lawmakers debating funding bills, one listener wants to know if this gamble is paying off.

Gov. Greg Gianforte toured Bonner School just east of Missoula Wednesday to promote his education priorities, including an incentive for schools to ban cell phones.

National data show more Montana high school seniors are filling out federal student loan applications this year than last. The application had a smoother rollout compared to last year, which was marred by technical glitches and delays.

The state Senate is mulling an ethics report about one of its own. Lawmakers hope to pass bills to boost teacher pay. The state school superintendent supports eliminating the federal Department of Education. And Montana's congressional delegation has no desire to hold public town halls.

Public education policymakers say hundreds of Montana school districts are eagerly lining up for state funding that would increase teacher pay.

More than a quarter of Montana’s public school districts are set to participate in what could be the final year of a state program incentivizing pay raises for new teachers.

The U.S. Department of Education is investigating Montana State University for allegedly violating civil rights by partnering with an organization that historically promoted diversity in doctorate programs.

President Donald Trump is slashing the Department of Education’s workforce. MTPR’s Austin Amestoy speaks with Montana Superintendent of Schools Susie Hedalen to learn how public education in Montana may be impacted.