Education

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.

A federal program that supports schools and infrastructure in rural communities lapsed two years ago. This month, Congress revived it. In 2023, 30 Montana counties received a collective $16 million from the program.

State higher education officials have changed the eligibility requirements for Montana’s American Indian Tuition Waiver. Starting next fall, blood quantum will no longer count toward eligibility.

A Helena judge has blocked a program that allowed parents of students with disabilities to spend state funds on private education expenses. The judge found the program was being funded illegally, because lawmakers hadn’t followed proper procedure.

A nearly century-old private college in Great Falls is on the ropes as it confronts a massive budget deficit. The University of Providence lost funding from the hospital system that supports it. Administrators are now laying off staff and changing course offerings in a bid to stay afloat. Montana Free Press reporter Matt Hudson is following the restructuring and joined MTPR’s Austin Amestoy with details.