Education

Montana is falling far short of best practices when it comes to paying for school maintenance. That’s according to a new nationwide report on school facilities. The message from Montana’s school maintenance directors to lawmakers is straightforward: “We need help.”

Montana is one of a shrinking number of states that doesn’t have a law regulating student cell phone use in school. Research increasingly suggests the devices play a role in rising rates of anxiety, depression and distractedness in kids. Some schools are taking matters into their own hands — and taking input from students along the way. Montana PBS reporter Hannah Kearse joined MTPR’s Austin Amestoy to discuss the trend.

New analysis from Montana legislative staff shows the state’s share of school budgets has gone up in dollar amount over the last two decades. But due to inflation, the value of that money has stayed almost exactly the same as it was in 2008.

Pencils down! Does that phrase bring back some anxiety-inducing memories? What if, like in your bad dreams, it's an exam you haven't studied for? A listener wants to know why student test scores have stopped rising. The answer involves triangles and time. Learn more in this lesson of The Big Why. There won't be a quiz afterward.

The University of Montana hopes to hire its next president by spring. The university system’s top leader concedes it’s an ambitious timeline, but is confident all building blocks are in place to make it possible.

The first report on Montana’s new public charter schools shows their students generally lag behind peers in standard public schools. But, that data comes with caveats.

Montana’s educator shortage appears to be worsening, according to the state Office of Public Instruction. The state is on track to authorize more than 300 unlicensed educators to teach this year. State education officials say Montana will again provide meals for children during the summer months. Montana is one of two states that has never introduced a bill to regulate cell phone use in schools statewide.

With state-of-the-art exhibits and free admission, the new Montana Heritage Center museum in Helena is a tantalizing field trip destination for teachers. But school travel is expensive. Now, a donor-funded grant is helping busloads of students visit the “Smithsonian” of Montana.

Montana education officials approved two new public charter schools Friday. That's the fewest since lawmakers paved the way for the schools in 2023.

A law that went into effect this school year requires volunteers at public schools to have their fingerprints taken. Schools generally support the policy, even as some bear a big new expense — $20,000 per month, in the case of Missoula schools.