Issues in Education:

k-12 Education

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Improving Education Opportunities and Providing Stable Funding

When Roy started in the Legislature in 1999, Montana was spending about $6000 per student in state, local and federal dollars for K through 12 schools. We now spend well over $9000 per student. The current total spending is almost $1.4 billion per year. As a percent of Montana family’s disposable income, the spending on education is very high when compared to other states. Yet we hear that it is not nearly enough and the education community is still considering going back to court for more money.

We all want a quality education for our kids and Roy will be the first to tell you that he does not have all the answers to this problem. Although we do know that states like Wyoming have plenty of money for new schools and high teacher salaries because they develop their natural resources. We could do the same. But is more money always the answer? Maybe it’s how the money is being spent rather than how much is being spent. If we are spending $9000 per student, then a typical classroom with 18 students has $162,000 being spent for those students. We need to focus the money on the classroom and the kids. The key to education is natural resource development so we have the money to fund increases in educational infrastructure and teacher salaries.

Rewarding Montana’s Finest Teachers

We must reward success, and just not for students. Montana has some of the finest faculty in any state, and at any level of education. Nevertheless, we must ensure that our teachers are continually held to the highest standards and that their achievement is recognized. Where we see teachers and principals succeeding consistently – we want them to be paid more.

To fulfill this goal, Roy proposes an achievement program that looks at teachers as more than just a score on a federally mandated, standardized test. Rather, he proposes we look at a teacher’s effort inside and outside the classroom. Roy will work with school districts and teacher’s unions to create local formulas that promote innovation, mentorship, community service, and extra-curricular involvement as a means of identifying Montana’s finest teachers and principals in order to reward them with a well deserved bonus pay.

Roy will challenge the legislature and local governments to fund these locally-based programs as means of recognizing, and finally rewarding, teachers as mentors and leaders - both in our classrooms and in our communities.

Advance Math and Science

Nationwide, students need to do better in math and science, and while Montana’s schools do well in these areas, we must ensure that these crucial subjects continue to lead our state’s academic performance.

We must give school districts the flexibility to pay qualified math and science teacher’s higher salaries. This must change so we can attract and keep good math and science teachers in schools across Montana. Moreover, we must ensure we have the faculty necessary to prepare our future generations for the technological advancements of tomorrow.

Engaging Our Talents in the Classroom

Did you know that Bill Gates is not qualified to teach computer science in our schools under current regulations? We must empower our state’s most qualified and talented individuals to bring their creativity and know-how into the classroom. Ensuring that we have qualified teachers is paramount, but so is connecting students to those who have immense talents in a variety of fields. We must foster a greater level of interaction between proven leaders in the workforce and those eager to learn. By changing the rules on accreditation, we will make it easier to for talented people to inspire and instruct Montana’s students.

Focusing Students on Their Future

Dual Credit, the opportunity for students to be simultaneously enrolled in college courses while still earning high school hours is a program that provides great promise to Montana students. First off, it allows them to explore many college offerings they would not otherwise be exposed to, especially if they are in a rural district. Second, it is more financially responsible for them to earn college credit while still in high school, meaning they will save money once they do continue their education after graduation. Finally, it allows students to focus on their future by exploring the many great career opportunities that are available. Whether it is a course in health sciences, a foreign language, or a skilled trade, Dual Credit provides students an opportunity to focus their future. We must expand this program.

Rural Schools

Consolidation of our rural schools hurts both students and communities and it really does not save much money. In towns across this state, schools bring a tremendous sense of pride and togetherness. With increased closures and consolidations, many of our fine rural communities and small town are dealt a serious blow. Through a program that provides monetary incentives for school districts to consolidate administration duties, many of these schools could stay open. With teacher salary incentives, Roy wants to bring the many fine students of our state’s colleges and universities to the most at risk rural districts in Montana. By placing young and passionate teachers into our small schools, and rural communities, we are injecting much needed support and activity. We must continue to invest in both our communities and small schools to ensure that rural Montana can continue to enjoy the pride of their own institutions.

High School Sports – Tournament of Champions

We have great athletes from across the state. From Libby and Lame Deer, to Malta and Missoula, Montana has some of the finest athletes in America. Unfortunately, many athletes in small towns and in small schools do not receive the attention from college recruiters that they so very much deserve – losing out on opportunities to perform and earn scholarships. To encourage attention to small school athletes and increase sporting completion across the state, Roy will urge the Montana High School Association (MHSA) to establish tournaments of champions, so athletes in virtually all sports, and in all communities have a chance to perform and succeed on a higher level. While this will be more feasible for individual sports like track, swimming, or golf, Roy will encourage the MHSA to continually promote inter-conference competition in sports like basketball and volleyball as well to ensure that Montana’s many great athletes, and many fine teams, are given every opportunity to achieve success.

Home School Education

Montana has a long tradition of home school education of children. Over the past 20 years it has increased in popularity. Parents choosing this form of education have numerous reasons for doing so. The availability of home school curriculum has made the process much easier. The adult interaction and flexibility around parents work schedules make home schooling attractive. Special needs children can receive more one on one attention. The successes of home school students prove that parental involvement in educating our children is one of the most important factors for a good education. There have been some attempts in recent sessions to do more to regulate home school education. Thousands of parents and children have shown up each time to testify against these attempts to add new regulations. Unless someone shows me wide spread abuse of the process I say let’s leave them alone. They are turning out some well educated students and college entrance scores prove it. Home school children ought to be able to also participate in the dual credit programs to take college credits while still in High school.

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