Public education in Montana

in  Montana

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K-12 education in Montana

Education facts
State superintendent:
Elsie Arntzen
Number of students:
142,908
Number of teachers:
10,200
Teacher/pupil ratio:
1:14
Number of school districts:
496
Number of schools:
824
Graduation rate:
84.4%
Per-pupil spending:
$10,625
See also
Montana Department of Education • List of school districts in Montana • Montana • School boards portal

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Public education in the United States
Public education in Montana
Glossary of education terms
Note: The statistics on this page are mainly from government sources, including the U.S. Census Bureau and the National Center for Education Statistics. Figures given are the most recent as of June 2015, with school years noted in the text or footnotes.

## Contents

* 1 Common Core
* 2 General information
* 2.1 Schools by type
* 3 Demographics
* 3.1 Enrollments by region type
* 4 Academic performance
* 4.1 NAEP scores
* 4.2 Graduation, ACT and SAT scores
* 4.3 Dropout rate
* 5 Educational choice options
* 5.1 Developments
* 5.1.1 Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue (2020)
* 6 Education funding and expenditures
* 6.1 Revenue breakdowns
* 6.2 Expenditure breakdowns
* 6.3 Personnel salaries
* 7 Organizations
* 7.1 State agencies
* 7.2 Unions
* 8 Taxpayer-funded lobbying
* 9 Studies and reports
* 9.1 Quality Counts 2014
* 9.2 State Budget Solutions education study
* 10 School districts
* 10.1 District types
* 10.2 School board composition
* 10.2.1 Term limits
* 10.3 Elections
* 10.3.1 Path to the ballot
* 10.3.2 Campaign finance
* 11 Recent legislation
* 12 Education ballot measures
* 13 In the news
* 14 See also
* 15 External links
* 16 Footnotes

The Montana public school system (prekindergarten through grade 12) operates within districts governed by locally elected school boards and superintendents. In 2013 Montana had 142,908 students enrolled in a total of 824 schools in 496 school districts. There were 10,200 teachers in the public schools, or roughly one teacher for every 14 students, compared to the national average of 1:16. There was roughly one administrator for every 271 students, compared to the national average of one administrator for every 295 students. On average Montana spent $10,625 per pupil in 2013, which ranked it 26th highest in the nation. The state's graduation rate was 84.4 percent in 2013.[1][2][3]

HIGHLIGHTS

* Between the 1999-2000 and 2012-2013 school years, the average salary for public school teachers in Montana increased by nearly 14 percent, one of the largest increases in the nation. Salaries grew by a larger percentage in only three states.

### Common Core[edit]

Common Core, or the Common Core State Standards Initiative, is an American education initiative that outlines quantifiable benchmarks in English and mathematics at each grade level from kindergarten through high school. The Montana Board of Public Education adopted the standards on November 4, 2011. Full implementation took place during the 2013-2014 academic year.[4][5]

A bill seeking to repeal the Common Core standards in Montana moved to a House Appropriations Committee hearing, eventually passing a second reading on February 21, 2015. If passed into law, HB 377 would repeal Common Core and create a council to set up new education standards for the state. As of July 2015, this bill had not yet been passed into law.[6]

## General information[edit]

See also: General comparison table for education statistics in the 50 states and Education spending per pupil in all 50 states

The following chart shows how Montana compared to three neighboring states with respect to the number of students, schools, teachers per pupil and administrators per pupil for the 2012-2013 school year. The chart also displays that information at the national level. Montana had the highest number of schools (824) and students (142,908) when compared to its neighboring states.

Further comparisons between these states with respect to performance and financial information are given in other sections of this page.

Regional comparison, 2012-2013

State | Schools | Districts | Students | Teachers | Teacher to pupil ratio | Admin. to pupil ratio | Per pupil spending*
Montana |  824 |  496  |  142,908 |  10,200  |  1:14  |  1:270.7  |  $10,625
North Dakota |  517  |  227  |  101,111  |  8,677  |  1:11.7  |  1:224.6  |  $11,980
South Dakota |  697  |  170  |  130,471  |  9,334  |  1:14  |  1:312.6  |  $8,470
Wyoming |  364  |  60  |  91,533  |  7,350  |  1:12.5  |  1:245.4  |  $15,700
United States | 98,454 | 18,093 | 49,771,118 | 3,109,101 | 1:16 | 1:294.1 | $10,700
*Per pupil spending data reflects information reported for fiscal year 2013.
Sources: National Center for Education Statistics, "Table 2 - Number of operating public schools and districts, state enrollment, teacher, and pupil teacher ratio, by state: School year 2012–13"
United States Census Bureau, "Public Education Finances: 2013 (Table 20)"

Note: In comparing dollar amounts across the states, it is important to note that the cost of living can from state to state and within a state. The amounts given on this page have not been adjusted to reflect these differences. For more information on "regional price disparities" and the Consumer Price Index, see the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis.

### Schools by type[edit]

Education policy on Ballotpedia

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Education policy in the U.S.

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Public education in the U.S.

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Higher education by state

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School choice in the U.S.

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Education statistics

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State information
Alabama • Alaska • Arizona • Arkansas • California • Colorado • Connecticut • Delaware • Florida • Georgia • Hawaii • Idaho • Illinois • Indiana • Iowa • Kansas • Kentucky • Louisiana • Maine • Maryland • Massachusetts • Michigan • Minnesota • Mississippi • Missouri • Montana • Nebraska • Nevada • New Hampshire • New Jersey • New Mexico • New York • North Carolina • North Dakota • Ohio • Oklahoma • Oregon • Pennsylvania • Rhode Island • South Carolina • South Dakota • Tennessee • Texas • Utah • Vermont • Virginia • Washington • West Virginia • Wisconsin • Wyoming

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School board elections portal
Glossary of education terms
School choice on the ballot
Education on the ballot

See also: Number of schools by school type in the United States

Of the 98,454 schools in the United States, 89,031 were classified as regular schools. After regular schools, magnet schools and charter schools were the most prevalent non-traditional schools in the country, at 6,079 and 5,986, respectively.

The table below breaks down each of the different types of schools in Montana and nearby states. Also listed are the numbers of schools in each state that are classified as "Title I" schools. These are public schools that have been specially targeted to correct achievement gaps in public schools.[7]

In Montana, there were 818 regular schools as of 2013. Alternative schools were the second most prevalent type of school in the state, with four schools classified as such. This indicates that, at least during the 2012-2013 school year, Montana had very limited options for school choice.

Number of schools by type, 2012-2013

State  |  Total schools  |  Regular  |  Special education  |  Vocational  |  Alternative  |  Charter  |  Magnet  |  Title I
Montana |  824  |  818 |  2  |  0  |  4 |  †  |  †  |  708
North Dakota |  517  |  472  |  33  |  12  |  0  |  †  |  †  |  275
South Dakota |  697  |  651  |  9  |  3  |  34  |  †  |  †  |  615
Wyoming |  364  |  337  |  3  |  0  |  24  |  4  |  †  |  173
United States |  98,454 | 89,031 | 2,034 | 1,403 | 5,986 | 6,079 | 3,151 | 68,140
† Not applicable. Some states/jurisdictions do not have charter school authorization and some states/jurisdictions do not designate magnet schools.
‡ Reporting standards were not met due to data that were missing for more than 20 percent of schools in the state or jurisdiction.
Source: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Common Core of Data (CCD), "Public Elementary/Secondary School Universe Survey," SY 2012–13 Provisional Version 1a

## Demographics[edit]

See also: Demographic information for all students in all 50 states

The following table displays the ethnic distribution of students in Montana as reported in the National Center for Education Statistics Common Core of Data for 2012-2013.[8]

During the 2012-2013 school year, just over half of all students in K-12 public schools nationwide were white. About a quarter of the students in the country were Hispanic, with black students making up about 16 percent of the student population.

In Montana, the majority of students were white. White students totaled 115,094, which was about 80.5 percent of the student population in the state. There were 16,228 students that identified as American Indian/Alaska Native, accounting for about 11.4 percent of the student population.

Public education enrollment by race/ethnicity, 2012-2013

State  |  Pop. category  |  Am. Indian/Alaska Native  |  Asian  |  Black  |  Hawaiian Nat./Pac. Islander  |  Hispanic  |  White  |  Two or more races
Montana |  Number  |  16,228  |  1,193  |  1,399  |  336  |  5,644  |  115,094 |  3,014
Percentage  |  11.36%  |  0.83%  |  0.98%  |  0.24%  |  3.95%  |  80.54% |  2.11%
North Dakota |  Number  |  9,086  |  1,280  |  2,895  |  237  |  3,363  |  83,037  |  1,213
Percentage  |  8.99%  |  1.27%  |  2.86%  |  0.23%  |  3.33%  |  82.12%  |  1.2%
South Dakota |  Number  |  14,977  |  2,211  |  3,584  |  138  |  5,571  |  101,242  |  2,748
Percentage  |  11.48%  |  1.69%  |  2.75%  |  0.11%  |  4.27%  |  77.6%  |  2.11%
Wyoming |  Number  |  3,042  |  766  |  1,029  |  178  |  11,753  |  73,277  |  1,488
Percentage  |  3.32%  |  0.84%  |  1.12%  |  0.19%  |  12.84%  |  80.06%  |  1.63%
United States |  Number  | 533,098 | 2,363,484 | 7,798,560 | 179,935 | 12,064,310 | 25,366,857 | 1,390,514
Percentage**  | 1.07% | 4.76% | 15.69% | 0.36% | 24.28% | 51.04% | 2.80%
**Note: This is the percentage of all students in the United States that are reported to be of this ethnicity.
Source: United States Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, "Common Core of Data (CCD), State Nonfiscal Public Elementary/Secondary Education Survey, 2012-2013"

### Enrollments by region type[edit]

See also: Student distribution by region type in the United States

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, about 30 percent of all public school students in the country attended city schools during the 2012-2013 school year. About 40 percent attended suburban schools. Approximately 11.5 percent of all students attended schools in towns, while about 18.7 percent attended rural schools.[9]

A plurality of students in Montana attended rural schools during the 2012-2013 school year. Approximately 27.2 percent of the state's students attended city or suburban schools, compared to the approximately 72.8 percent who attended rural or town schools.

Student distribution by region type, 2012-2013 (as percents)

State  |  City schools  |  Suburban schools  |  Town schools  |  Rural schools
Montana |  25.2%  |  2%  |  37%  |  35.8%
North Dakota |  28.9%  |  11.1%  |  21.2%  |  38.7%
South Dakota |  27.2%  |  1.7%  |  29.7%  |  41.4%
Wyoming |  25.2%  |  2.1%  |  44.1%  |  28.6%
U.S. averages |  30% | 39.8% | 11.5% | 18.7%
Source: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Common Core of Data (CCD), "Public Elementary/Secondary School Universe Survey, SY 2012–13 Provisional Version 1a"

## Academic performance[edit]

Education terms

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For more information on education policy terms, see this article.

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School board elections portal
Glossary of education terms
School choice on the ballot
Education on the ballot

### NAEP scores[edit]

See also: NAEP scores by state

The National Center for Education Statistics provides state-by-state data on student achievement levels in mathematics and reading in the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). The table below presents the percentage of fourth and eighth grade students that scored at or above proficient in reading and math during school year 2012-2013. Compared to three neighboring states (North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming), Montana had the highest share of eighth grade students who scored at or above proficient in reading.[10]

Percent of students scoring at or above proficient, 2012-2013

| Math - Grade 4 | Math - Grade 8 | Reading - Grade 4 | Reading - Grade 8
Montana | 45% | 40% | 35% | 40%
North Dakota | 48% | 41% | 34% | 34%
South Dakota | 40% | 38% | 32% | 36%
Wyoming | 48% | 38% | 37% | 38%
United States |  41% | 34% | 34% | 34%
Source: United States Department of Education, ED Data Express, "State Tables"

### Graduation, ACT and SAT scores[edit]

See also: Graduation rates by groups in state and ACT and SAT scores in the United States

The following table shows the graduation rates and average composite ACT and SAT scores for Montana and surrounding states during the 2012-2013 school year. All statements made in this section refer to that school year.[10][11][12]

In the United States, public schools reported graduation rates that averaged to about 81.4 percent. About 54 percent of all students in the country took the ACT, while 50 percent reported taking the SAT. The average national composite scores for those tests were 20.9 out of a possible 36 for the ACT, and 1498 out of a possible 2400 for the SAT.[13]

Montana schools reported a graduation rate of 84.4 percent during the 2012-2013 school year, second highest among its neighboring states.

In Montana, more students took the ACT than the SAT in 2013, earning an average ACT score of 21.3.

Comparison table for graduation rates and test scores, 2012-2013

State  |  Graduation rate, 2013  |  Average ACT composite, 2013  |  Average SAT composite, 2013
Percent  |  Quintile ranking**  |  Score  |  Participation rate  |  Score  |  Participation rate
Montana |  84.4% |  Third  |  21.3 |  72%  |  1595  |  25%
North Dakota |  87.5%  |  First  |  20.5  |  98%  |  1799  |  2%
South Dakota |  82.7%  |  Third  |  21.9  |  78%  |  1760  |  3%
Wyoming |  77%  |  Fourth  |  19.8  |  100%  |  1757  |  4%
United States |  81.4% | 20.9 | 54% | 1498 | 50%
**Graduation rates for states in the first quintile ranked in the top 20 percent nationally. Similarly, graduation rates for states in the fifth quintile ranked in the bottom 20 percent nationally.
Sources: United States Department of Education, "ED Data Express"
ACT.org, "2013 ACT National and State Scores"
The Commonwealth Foundation, "SAT scores by state, 2013"

### Dropout rate[edit]

See also: Public high school dropout rates by state for a full comparison of dropout rates by group in all states

The high school event dropout rate indicates the proportion of students who were enrolled at some time during the school year and were expected to be enrolled in grades nine through 12 in the following school year but were not enrolled by October 1 of the following school year. Students who have graduated, transferred to another school, died, moved to another country, or who are out of school due to illness are not considered dropouts. The average public high school event dropout rate for the United States remained constant at 3.3 percent for both school year 2010–2011 and school year 2011–2012. The event dropout rate for Montana was higher than the national average at 4.3 percent in the 2010-2011 school year, and 4.1 percent in the 2011-2012 school year.[14]

## Educational choice options[edit]

See also: School choice in Montana

School choice options in Montana included inter-district open enrollment policies and online learning programs. In addition, about 6.46 percent of school-age children in the state attended private schools in the 2011-2012 academic year, and an estimated 2.67 percent were homeschooled in 2012-2013.

### Developments[edit]

#### Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue (2020)[edit]

Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue

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Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue
Media coverage and commentary
U.S. Supreme Court 2019-2020 term

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Blaine Amendment (U.S. Constitution)
Blaine amendments in state constitutions

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School choice on the ballot
Education on the ballot

See also: Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue

On June 30, 2020, the U.S. Supreme Court decided Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue, which concerned whether the government can exclude religious institutions from student-aid programs. The case related to Article X, Section 6 of the Montana Constitution, also known as Montana’s Blaine Amendment.[15]

In its 5-4 opinion, the court held that the application of Article X, Section 6 violated the free exercise clause of the U.S. Constitution. The majority held Article X, Section 6 barred religious schools and parents who wished to send their children to those schools from receiving public benefits because of the religious character of the school.[16]

The case addressed the tension between the free exercise and Establishment clauses of the U.S. Constitution--where one guarantees the right of individuals' free exercise of religion and the other guarantees that the state won't establish a religion--and the intersections of state constitutions with state law and with the U.S. Constitution.

Montana is one of the states with a Blaine Amendment.

## Education funding and expenditures[edit]

See also: Montana state budget and finances

Breakdown of expenditures by function in fiscal year 2013
Source: National Association of State Budget Officers

According to the National Association of State Budget Officers (NASBO), states spent an average of 19.8 percent of their total budgets on elementary and secondary education during fiscal year 2013. In addition, the United States Census Bureau found that approximately 45.6 percent of the country's school system revenue came from state sources, while about 45.3 percent came from local sources. The remaining portion of school system revenue came from federal sources.[17][18]

Montana spent approximately 15.5 percent of its budget on elementary and secondary education during fiscal year 2013. School system revenue came primarily from state funds. Montana spent a greater percent of its total budget on public education than any of its neighboring states.

Comparison of financial figures for school systems, fiscal year 2013

State | Percentage of budget | Per pupil spending | Revenue sources
Percent federal funds |  Percent state funds |  Percent local funds
Montana |  15.5% |  $10,625  |  12.8%  |  47.7% |  39.5%
North Dakota |  15%  |  $11,980  |  10.7%  |  50.3%  |  38.9%
South Dakota |  14.1%  |  $8,470  |  14.8%  |  31%  |  54.1%
Wyoming |  10.9%  |  $15,700  |  6.7%  |  52%  |  41.3%
United States |  19.8% | $10,700 | 9.1% | 45.6% | 45.3%
Sources: NASBO, "State Expenditure Report" (Table 8).
U.S. Census Bureau, "Public Education Finances: 2013, Economic Reimbursable Surveys Division Reports" (Table 5 and Table 8).

### Revenue breakdowns[edit]

See also: Public school system revenues in the U.S. to compare all states.

According to the United States Census Bureau, public school system revenues totaled approximately $598 billion in fiscal year 2013.[18]

In Montana, the primary source of school system revenue was state funding during fiscal year 2013, at $788 million. Montana reported total revenue that was very close to the amounts reported by its neighboring states.

Revenues by source, fiscal year 2013 (amounts in thousands)

State | Federal revenue | State revenue | Local revenue | Total revenue
Montana |  $210,593  |  $788,329 |  $652,713  |  $1,651,635
North Dakota |  $145,905  |  $685,348  |  $530,337  |  $1,361,590
South Dakota |  $194,731  |  $408,009  |  $711,591  |  $1,314,331
Wyoming |  $113,501  |  $881,114  |  $698,563  |  $1,693,178
United States |  $54,367,305 | $272,916,892 | $270,645,402 | $597,929,599
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, "Public Education Finances: 2013, Economic Reimbursable Surveys Division Reports" (Table 1)

### Expenditure breakdowns[edit]

See also: Public school system expenditures in the United States

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, public school system expenditures totaled approximately $602 billion in fiscal year 2012.[19]

Public education expenditures in Montana totaled approximately $1.7 billion in fiscal year 2012. Montana's total expenditures were nearly equal to Wyoming's, which was the highest when compared to Montana's other neighboring states.

Expenditures by type, fiscal year 2012 (amounts in thousands)

State | General expenditures | Capital outlay | Other | Total expenditures
Montana |  $1,504,531  |  $120,771  |  $29,324  |  $1,654,625
North Dakota |  $1,098,090  |  $160,058  |  $22,521  |  $1,280,669
South Dakota |  $1,100,100  |  $172,739  |  $30,036  |  $1,302,875
Wyoming |  $1,432,216  |  $213,239  |  $10,455  |  $1,655,911
United States | $527,096,473 | $48,773,386 | $25,897,123 | $601,766,981
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, "Revenues and Expenditures for Public Elementary and Secondary Education: School Year 2011–12 (Fiscal Year 2012)" (Table 5)

### Personnel salaries[edit]

See also: Public school teacher salaries in the United States

Note: Salaries given are averages for the state. Salaries may vary between a state's urban, suburban, and rural districts and should be adjusted for cost of living. For example, a MacIver Institute study of average teacher salaries in 60 metropolitan areas found that salaries in New York City were the third-highest in absolute figures but 59th-highest when adjusted for the cost of living.[20]

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, the average national salary for classroom teachers in public elementary and secondary schools declined by 1.3 percent from the 1999-2000 school year to the 2012-2013 school year. During the same period in Montana, the average salary increased by 13.9 percent.[21]

Estimated average salaries for teachers (in constant dollars**)

| 1999-2000 | 2009-2010 | 2011-2012 | 2012-2013 | Percent difference
Montana | $43,896  | $48,845  | $49,354  | $49,999  |  13.9%
North Dakota | $40,810  | $45,862  | $46,825  | $47,344  | 16%
South Dakota | $39,728  | $41,456  | $39,450  | $39,580  | -0.4%
Wyoming | $46,638  | $59,628  | $58,174  | $57,920  | 24.2%
United States | $57,133 | $58,925 | $56,340 | $56,383 | -1.3%
**"Constant dollars based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI), prepared by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, adjusted to a school-year basis. The CPI does not account for differences in inflation rates from state to state."

## Organizations[edit]

### State agencies[edit]

See also: Montana Office of Public Instruction

The Montana Office of Public Instruction is led by the State Superintendent of Public Instruction. Article IV of the Montana Constitution mandates that the Superintendent of Public Instruction be elected to four-year terms. Denise Juneau was first elected to the position in 2008.[22][23]

The Montana Board of Public Education is generally responsible for public education in the state. The board has the following specific responsibilities:[24]

* Adopt standards of accreditation for Montana schools and establish the accreditation status of each school;
* Effect a system of teacher certification, including the accreditation of the teacher and administrator training programs;
* Consider the suspension or revocation of teacher certificates and hear appeals from the denial of teacher certificates;
* Administer and order the distribution of state equalization aid;
* Adopt policies for the special education of handicapped and gifted and talented students; and
* Act as the governing agency for the Montana School for the Deaf and Blind.

The board is composed of eight members, seven of whom are appointed by the governor and confirmed by the state senate. Board members serve seven-year terms. The composition of the board must meet the following requirements:[24]

* No more than four may be from one of the two commission districts
* No more than four may be affiliated with the same political party

One student representative is selected by the Montana Association of Student Councils to serve a one-year term.[24]

### Unions[edit]

In 2012 the Fordham Institute and Education Reform Now assessed the power and influence of state teacher unions in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Their rankings were based on 37 different variables in five broad areas: resources and membership, involvement in politics, scope of bargaining, state policies and perceived influence. Montana ranked third overall for union power and influence, or "strongest," which was in the first of five tiers.[25]

The main union related to the Montana school system is the Montana Education Association - Montana Federation of Teachers (MEA-MFT). MEA-MFT is the largest education association in the state. For the 2003 tax period MEA-MFT had: $4.92 million in total revenue, $4.91 million in total expenses and $2.33 million in total assets.[26]

List of local Montana school unions:[27]

* Montana Education Association - Montana Federation of Teachers
* Montana Indian Education Association
* Montana Rural Education Association
* Helena Education Association
* Target Range Teachers Association

## Taxpayer-funded lobbying[edit]

See also: Montana government sector lobbying

The main education government sector lobbying organization is the Montana School Boards Association.

## Studies and reports[edit]

### Quality Counts 2014[edit]

See also: Education Week survey

Education Week, a publication that reports on many education issues throughout the country, began using an evaluation system in 1997 to grade each state on various elements of education performance. This system, called Quality Counts, uses official data on performance from each state to generate report cards for all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The report card in 2014 uses six different categories:

1. Chance for success
2. K-12 achievement
3. Standards, assessments and accountability
4. The teaching profession
5. School finance
6. Transitions and alignment

Each of these six categories had a number of other elements that received individual scores. Those scores were then averaged and used to determine the final score in each category. Every state received two types of scores for each of the six major categories: A numerical score out of 100 and a letter grade based on that score. Education Week used the score for the first category, "chance for success," as the value for ranking each state and the District of Columbia. The average grade received in the entire country was 77.3, or a C+ average. The country's highest average score was in the category of "standards, assessments and accountability" at 85.3, or a B average. The lowest average score was in "K-12 achievement", at 70.2, or a C- average.

Montana received a score of 76.3, or a C average in the "chance for success" category. This was below the national average. The state's highest score was matched with "standards, assessments and accountability" at 76.3, or a C average. This score matched the score in the "chance for success" category. The lowest score was in "transitions and alignment" at 60.7, or a D- average. Montana had the lowest score in the country for "transitions and alignment." The chart below displays the scores of Montana and its surrounding states.[28]

Note: Click on a column heading to sort the data.

Public education report cards, 2014

State | Chance for success | K-12 achievement | Standards, assessments and accountability | The teaching profession | School finance | Transitions and alignment
Montana | 76.3 (C) | 69.7 (C-) | 76.3 (C) | 69.4 (D+) | 73.0 (C) | 60.7 (D-)
North Dakota | 86.9 (B+) | 68.2 (D+) | 85.4 (B) | 66.6 (D+) | 76.8 (C+) | 78.6 (C+)
South Dakota | 79.6 (B-) | 63.2 (D) | 73.0 (C) | 60.8 (D-) | 68.2 (D+) | 64.3 (D)
Wyoming | 79.9 (B-) | 70.0 (C-) | 79.3 (C+) | 66.7 (D+) | 90.3 (A-) | 78.6 (C+)
United States | 77.3 (C+) | 70.2 (C-) | 85.3 (B) | 72.5 (C) | 75.5 (C) | 81.1 (B-)
Source: Education Week, "Quality Counts 2014"

A full discussion of how these numbers were generated can be found here.

### State Budget Solutions education study[edit]

See also: State spending on education v. academic performance (2012)

State Budget Solutions examined national trends in education from 2009 to 2011, including state-by-state analysis of education spending, graduation rates and average ACT scores. The study showed that the states that spent the most did not have the highest average ACT test scores, nor did they have the highest average graduation rates. A summary of the study is available here. The full report can be accessed here.

## School districts[edit]

See also: School board elections portal

### District types[edit]

Montana contains four types of school districts. Elementary districts educate students in grades K-8. Some elementary districts contain high school districts, which are dependent entities of the elementary district or districts in which they are located. County high school districts are independent entities that educate students in grades 9-12. K-12 districts educate students of all ages. If an elementary district and a high school district have the same boundaries, they are required by law to join together as a K-12 district. Elementary districts and county high school districts can also unify together, although that process requires the passage of a referendum.[29]

### School board composition[edit]

Montana school board members are elected by residents of the school district. Montana school board elections typically follow the district method. In district elections, only voters residing in a specific geographic area within the school district may vote on certain candidates, who must also reside in that specific geographic area.

The number of board members in an elementary school district depends on the size of the population in the district, along with whether the board has voted to expand its size. Districts with a population of 6,500 or more have seven trustees, districts with a population between 1,000 and 6,500 have five trustees and districts with a population of less than 1,000 have three trustees. The second kind of district can vote to increase its number of trustees from five to seven, and the third kind of district can vote to increase its number of trustees from three to five.

The number of board members in a high school district is dependent on the number of board members in the elementary school district it services, assuming that the high school is located within an elementary school district. If the high school is located in an area with multiple elementary school districts, its number of trustees is dependent on the elementary school district that was established first. The newer elementary school district can petition to increase the size of the high school district's board, or it can be increased by a voter petition to the county superintendent. County high school districts and K-12 districts each have seven trustees.

School board members serve three-year terms, although exceptions are possible.[30]

#### Term limits[edit]

Montana does not impose statewide term limits on school board members.[31]

### Elections[edit]

See also: Montana school board elections, 2021

No Montana school districts within Ballotpedia's coverage scope are holding school board elections in 2021.

#### Path to the ballot[edit]

To qualify for the ballot as a school board candidate in Montana, a person must be:

* A registered voter in the district at the time of the candidacy filing deadline
* A resident of the district

A person must not be:

* Employed by the district
* Running simultaneously for another public office

The process of running for office as a school board candidate begins with filing a "petition of nomination" and an "oath of candidacy." Elementary school district candidates must file petitions with at least 20 signatures, but candidates in other types of school districts are only required to file petitions with a minimum of five signatures. Both the petition and the oath must be filed with the election administrator between 135 and 40 days prior to the election.

To run as a write-in candidate, the candidate must file a "declaration of intent for write-in candidates" form with the election administrator at least 26 days prior to the election. People who receive write-in votes but who did not file that form will still have their votes counted as long as the election is held, they legally qualify to be a candidate and no other candidate has filed for the election. Candidates may withdraw from the ballot if they file a written statement of withdrawal with the district clerk at least 38 days prior to the election.

School board elections are held annually on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in May.[30]

#### Campaign finance[edit]

If a school board candidate, including a write-in candidate, is running in a district with a population over 15,000, or in a county high school district with a population over 2,000 where the candidate has received or spent more than $500, that candidate must file campaign finance reports with the Montana Commissioner of Political Practices. Those reports include a pre-election report and a post-election report, along with a "48 hour report" if a candidate receives a contribution of $100 or more from a single source in the 17 days leading up to the election.[30][32]

## Recent legislation[edit]

The following is a list of recent education bills that have been introduced in or passed by the Montana state legislature. To learn more about each of these bills, click the bill title. This information is provided by BillTrack50 and LegiScan.

Note: Due to the nature of the sorting process used to generate this list, some results may not be relevant to the topic. If no bills are displayed below, no legislation pertaining to this topic has been introduced in the legislature recently.

## Education ballot measures[edit]

See also: Education on the ballot and List of Montana ballot measures

Ballotpedia has tracked the following statewide ballot measures relating to education.

1. Montana Bond for Higher Education, Referendum 1 (1908)
2. Montana Bonds for Educational Institutions, I-19 (1920)
3. Montana Bonds for State Educational Institutions, R-33 (1930)
4. Montana Consolidation of Higher Education Institutions, I-9 (1914)
5. Montana Create Board of Education, Amendment 1 (1942)
6. Montana Department of Education, C-30 (1996)
7. Montana Educational Bonds, R-46 (1942)
8. Montana Income from Public School Funds, Amendment 1 (1944)
9. Montana Indebtedness of High School Districts, Amendment 1 (1958)
10. Montana Interest on School Funds, Amendment 2 (1920)
11. Montana Investment of Public School Permanent Fund, Amendment 2 (1938)
12. Montana LR-128, Property Tax for State University System Measure (2018)
13. Montana Levy for Education, Referendum 1 (1914)
14. Montana Levy for Montana University, LR-106 (1988)
15. Montana Levy for Public Schools, R-29 (1926)
16. Montana Levy for Technical Education, LR-109 (June 1992)
17. Montana Levy for University Maintenance, I-18 (1920)
18. Montana Levy for University Support, R-65 (1968)
19. Montana Levy to Support University System, LR-75 (1978)
20. Montana Qualifications of County Superintendents, Amendment 1 (1924)
21. Montana State College Bonds, I-44 (1940)
22. Montana State College Bonds, R-45 (1942)
23. Montana Training School Bond Issue, R-58 (1954)
24. Montana University System Tax Levy, LR-113 (1998)
25. Montana University System Tax Levy, LR-118 (2008)
26. Montana University of Montana Bonds, R-52 (1948)
27. Montana University of Montana Levy, R-42 (1940)
28. Montana University of Montana Levy, R-51 (1948)
29. Montana University of Montana Levy, R-61 (1958)

## In the news[edit]

The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Montana education policy. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.

Public education in Montana - Google News

## See also[edit]

* Historical public education information in Montana
* Montana state budget and finances
* Montana Department of Education
* List of school districts in Montana
* Montana
* Education Policy in the U.S.

## External links[edit]

* Historical public education information in Montana
* Montana Office of Public Instruction
* Reports and data
* Montana State Superintendent of Public Instruction
* Montana Board of Public Education
* Montana Advisory Council for Indian Education

## Footnotes[edit]

1. ↑ United States Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, "Common Core of Data (CCD); Table 2.—Number of operating public schools and districts, state enrollment, teacher and pupil/teacher ratio by state: School year 2012-13," accessed May 29, 2015
2. ↑ National Association of State Budget Officers, "State expenditure report, Fiscal years 2012-2014," accessed July 14, 2015
3. ↑ United States Department of Education, "ED Data Express," accessed May 29, 2015
4. ↑ Common Core State Standards Initiative, "Core Standards in your State," accessed June 12, 2014
5. ↑ Montana Office of Public Instruction, "Montana English Language Arts and Mathematics Standards and Assessments," accessed June 17, 2014
6. ↑ KTVQ, "House bill to eliminate Common Core passes second reading," February 23, 2015
7. ↑ U.S. Department of Education, "Title I - Improving the academic achievement of the disadvantaged," accessed May 29, 2015
8. ↑ United States Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, "Common Core of Data (CCD), State Nonfiscal Public Elementary/Secondary Education Survey, 2011-2012," accessed May 7, 2014
9. ↑ U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Common Core of Data (CCD), "Public Elementary/Secondary School Universe Survey, SY 2012–13 Provisional Version 1a," accessed March 2, 2016
10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 United States Department of Education, ED Data Express, "State Tables," accessed May 13, 2014
11. ↑ ACT, "2012 ACT National and State Scores," accessed May 13, 2014
12. ↑ Commonwealth Foundation, "SAT Scores by State 2013," October 10, 2013
13. ↑ StudyPoints, "What's a good SAT score or ACT score?" accessed June 7, 2015
14. ↑ United States Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, "Common Core of Data (CCD), State Dropout and Graduation Rate Data File, School Year 2010-11, Provision Version 1a and School Year 2011-12, Preliminary Version 1a," accessed May 13, 2014
15. ↑ Supreme Court of the United States, Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue: "Petition for a writ of certiorari," accessed July 3, 2019
16. ↑ Supreme Court of the United States, Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue, decided June 30, 2020
17. ↑ NASBO, "State Expenditure Report," accessed July 2, 2015
18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 U.S. Census Bureau, "Public Education Finances: 2013, Economic Reimbursable Surveys Division Reports," accessed July 2, 2015
19. ↑ National Center for Education Statistics, "Revenues and Expenditures for Public Elementary and Secondary Education: School Year 2011–12 (Fiscal Year 2012)," accessed July 2, 2015
20. ↑ Maciver Institute, "REPORT: How much are teachers really paid?" accessed October 29, 2014
21. ↑ United States Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, "Table 211.60. Estimated average annual salary of teachers in public elementary and secondary schools, by state: Selected years, 1969-70 through 2012-13," accessed May 13, 2014
22. ↑ The Constitution of the State of Montana, "Article IV," accessed May 22, 2014
23. ↑ Montana Office of Public Instruction, "State Superintendent of Public Instruction," accessed May 22, 2014
24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 24.2 Montana Board of Public Education, "About Us," accessed May 22, 2014
25. ↑ Thomas E Fordham Institute, " How Strong Are U.S. Teacher Unions? A State-By-State Comparison," October 29, 2012
26. ↑ Center for Union Facts, "Montana Education Association - Montana Federation of Teachers," accessed November 10, 2009
27. ↑ Center for Union Facts, "Montana teachers unions," accessed November 10, 2009
28. ↑ Education Week "Quality Counts 2014," accessed February 19, 2015
29. ↑ United States Census Bureau, "Montana," accessed July 10, 2014
30. ↑ 30.0 30.1 30.2 Montana Office of Public Instruction, "School Election Handbook," accessed July 10, 2014
31. ↑ National School Boards Association, "Survey of the State School Boards Associations on Term Limits for Local Board Members," accessed July 8, 2014
32. ↑ Montana Commissioner of Political Practices, "Campaign Finance Report Calendar for School Trustee Candidates," accessed July 10, 2014

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