State of Montana Archives: on Education


Amanda Curtis: No vouchers; no charters; yes Common Core

Q: Do you support the national Common Core State Standards initiative?

A: Yes.

Q: Do you support a merit pay system for teachers?

A: No.

Q: Should parents be allowed to use vouchers to send their children to any school?

A: No.

Q: Do you support state funding for charter schools?

A: No.

Source: Montana Legislative Election 2012 Political Courage Test Nov 1, 2012

Amanda Curtis: Math teacher and unabashed backer of public schools

Curtis, a 34-year-old math teacher at Butte High School, an unabashed backer of labor unions, public education and the "working class," is seemingly fired up at the chance to take on Steve Daines, the freshman Republican congressman who has had front-runner status for months in the Senate race.
Source: Billings Gazette on 2014 Montana Senate race Aug 16, 2014

Betsy DeVos: States can fund private schools but not parochial schools

Supreme Court delivered a major victory to parents seeking state aid for their children's religious school education. The court's conservative majority ruled 5-4 that states offering scholarships to students in private schools cannot exclude religious schools from such programs.

It was a decision long sought by proponents of school choice and vehemently opposed by teachers' unions, who fear it could drain needed tax dollars from struggling public schools. The Montana supreme court struck down the program, citing the separation of church and state and prompting state officials to deny funds to secular schools as well. Roberts and other conservative justices said the no-aid policy had its roots in 19th-century anti-Catholic sentiment

The Trump administration had sided with the parents. President Donald Trump has long championed prayer in schools, and January's oral argument in the case was attended by Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos, a longtime proponent of religious schools.

Source: USA Today on Espinosa v. Montana, No. 18-1195 Jun 30, 2020

Bill McChesney: No state funding for charter schools

Q: Do you support national education standards?

A: No.

Q: Do you support requiring public schools to administer high school exit exams?

A: Yes.

Q: Do you support using a merit pay system for teachers?

A: I'd need to see that actual proposal...there are good points and some that concern me.

Q: Do you support state funding for charter schools?

A: No.

Source: Montana State Congressional 2010 Political Courage Test Nov 1, 2010

Bob Kelleher: Supports voluntary prayer in public schools

Source: Montana 2004 Gubernatorial National Political Awareness Test Nov 1, 2004

Bob Kelleher: State-funded vouchers for private or religious school

Source: Montana 2004 Gubernatorial National Political Awareness Test Nov 1, 2004

Brad Johnson: Supports school choice

Johnson called himself a "proven vote-getter" with strong conservative positions, such as opposition to abortion, support of gun rights, support of "school choice" and opposition to expanded government, such as Medicaid coverage for poor people.
Source: KRTV.com on 2016 Montana gubernatorial race Sep 23, 2015

Brett Kavanaugh: States funding private schools must fund parochial schools

Supreme Court delivered a major victory to parents seeking state aid for their children's religious school education. The court's conservative majority ruled 5-4 that states offering scholarships to students in private schools cannot exclude religious schools from such programs.

The court stopped short of requiring states to fund religious education, ruling only that programs cannot differentiate between religious and secular private schools. "A state need not subsidize private education. But once a state decides to do so, it cannot disqualify some private schools solely because they are religious," Roberts wrote.

Roberts and other conservative justices said the no-aid policy had its roots in 19th-century anti-Catholic sentiment, that blocked religious schools from receiving public funds. Amendments in 37 states were "'born of bigotry' and 'arose at a time of pervasive hostility to the Catholic Church,'" he wrote. "Many of its state counterparts have a similarly 'shameful pedigree.'"

Source: USA Today: Concurrence on Espinosa v. Montana, No. 18-1195 Jun 30, 2020

Brian Schweitzer: Invest in K-12 by creating public-private partnerships

Education is the key to economic development, and I support investing in K-12 and higher education. We need to offer a competitive wage to attract and retain good teachers, and we need to hold schools and students accountable. I’ve proposed creating public-private partnerships with our 2 and 4-year institutions to lower the cost of college tuition.
Source: 2004 Montana Gubernatorial National Political Awareness Test Nov 1, 2004

Casey Schreiner: For public preschool, better funding for public schools

Montana kids are successful when they have access to a good education. No matter where you come from or where you live, your kids should have access to quality education. As a former teacher, Casey knows firsthand the huge impact our teachers have on our children. Casey is on the frontlines advocating for public preschool, and he'll always fight for better funding for Montana's public schools.
Source: 2020 Montana governor campaign website CaseyForMontana.com Dec 31, 2019

Casey Schreiner: Sees need for special needs funding as teacher and as parent

Schreiner said, "I am a special needs dad myself, I have two kids on the autism spectrum, and I'm in a unique position to be somebody who has been a teacher, but now I get to sit on the other side of the table as a parent. We need better funding. The state needs to prioritize that in their funding."

"It's harder to get across the finish line because that is actually increasing the budget (when) it should've been there from the beginning, so that's one place we are going to focus on."

Source: Havre Daily News on 2020 Montana gubernatorial race Dec 17, 2019

Champ Edmunds: State funding for charters and vouchers

Q: Do you support a merit pay system for teachers?

A: Yes.

Q: Is the tenure process for public school teachers producing effective teachers?

A: No.

Q: Should parents be allowed to use vouchers to send their children to any school?

A: Yes.

Q: Do you support state funding for charter schools?

A: Yes.

Q: Do you support the state government providing college students with financial aid?

A: Yes.

Q:

Source: Montana Legislative Election 2012 Political Courage Test Nov 1, 2012

Clarence Thomas: States funding private schools must fund parochial schools

Supreme Court delivered a major victory to parents seeking state aid for their children's religious school education. The court's conservative majority ruled 5-4 that states offering scholarships to students in private schools cannot exclude religious schools from such programs.

The court stopped short of requiring states to fund religious education, ruling only that programs cannot differentiate between religious and secular private schools. "A state need not subsidize private education. But once a state decides to do so, it cannot disqualify some private schools solely because they are religious," Roberts wrote.

Roberts and other conservative justices said the no-aid policy had its roots in 19th-century anti-Catholic sentiment, that blocked religious schools from receiving public funds. Amendments in 37 states were "'born of bigotry' and 'arose at a time of pervasive hostility to the Catholic Church,'" he wrote. "Many of its state counterparts have a similarly 'shameful pedigree.'"

Source: USA Today: Concurrence on Espinosa v. Montana, No. 18-1195 Jun 30, 2020

Elena Kagan: States can fund private schools but not parochial schools

Supreme Court delivered a major victory to parents seeking state aid for their children's religious school education. The court's conservative majority ruled 5-4 that states offering scholarships to students in private schools cannot exclude religious schools from such programs.

The Montana supreme court struck down the program, citing the separation of church and state and prompting state officials to deny funds to secular schools as well. The Supreme Court's liberal justices seized on that point in three separate dissents. They said Montana solved the discrimination by ending the program. "Petitioners may still send their children to a religious school," Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg said. "There simply are no scholarship funds to be had."

Roberts and other conservative justices said the no-aid policy had its roots in constitutional amendments in 37 states, many rooted in 19th-century anti-Catholic sentiment, that blocked religious schools from receiving public funds.

Source: USA Today: Dissent on Espinosa v. Montana, No. 18-1195 Jun 30, 2020

Greg Gianforte: Provides high school scholarships for computer coding

Greg is the founder of CodeMontana, which provides public school scholarships to high school students to learn coding and computer science. He's also the founder of ACE Scholarships Montana to help low and moderate income students attend the school of their choice. Additionally, Greg launched Gianforte manufacturing scholarships, providing 50% scholarships to low-income Montanans and veterans.
Source: 2016 Montana governor's campaign website GregForMontana.com Feb 3, 2016

Greg Gianforte: Helped build a museum based on creationist beliefs

Montana has attracted a small but vocal hard-right Christian coalition, which is where Gianforte, a devout Christian who grew up in Philadelphia, fits in. The Gianforte Family Foundation has supported anti-abortion campaigns and helped build a museum based on the creationist belief that humans and dinosaurs coexisted. In 2014, Gianforte lobbied against a nondiscrimination ordinance in Bozeman.
Source: Ozy.com on 2016 Montana gubernatorial race Jan 13, 2016

Greg Gianforte: Supports school choice and voucher initiatives

In addition to supporting school choice and voucher initiatives that have faced stiff opposition from Democrats in the Legislature, Gianforte proposed investing in additional science and math training for K-12 teachers and an expansion of the state's Digital Academy so more kids could pursue advanced coursework. As one way to bring more computer science courses to schools, he proposed making them an alternative to fulfill foreign language credit requirements.
Source: Billings Gazette on 2016 Montana gubernatorial race Jan 24, 2016

Greg Gianforte: More trade education scholarships; more teacher incentives

Our budget builds a stronger Montana workforce by prioritizing trades education. My budget establishes the Montana Trades Education Credit, or M-TEC. Our budget provides for as many as 1,000 scholarships per year by offering businesses a 50% credit for their employees to learn a trade. Together, employers and employees can decide on training that's best for the business and the employee.

We must do better for our starting teachers. That's why my budget provides $2.5 million in incentives to schools to improve starting teacher pay. I encourage the legislature to pass the TEACH Act, or Tomorrow's Educators are Coming Home Act, which Representative Jones is sponsoring. By increasing their pay, let's make it easier for our starting teachers to choose to stay in Montana or come back home. Let's make their pay more competitive.

Source: 2021 State of the State Address to the Montana legislature Jan 28, 2021

John Bohlinger: More finds for hiring teachers & professional development

Source: Montana Legislative 1998 National Political Awareness Test Nov 1, 1998

John Bohlinger: Endorses teacher-led voluntary prayer in public schools

Source: Montana Legislative 1998 National Political Awareness Test Nov 1, 1998

John Roberts: States funding private schools must fund parochial schools

Supreme Court delivered a major victory to parents seeking state aid for their children's religious school education. The court's conservative majority ruled 5-4 that states offering scholarships to students in private schools cannot exclude religious schools from such programs.

The court stopped short of requiring states to fund religious education, ruling only that programs cannot differentiate between religious and secular private schools. "A state need not subsidize private education. But once a state decides to do so, it cannot disqualify some private schools solely because they are religious," Roberts wrote.

Roberts and other conservative justices said the no-aid policy had its roots in 19th-century anti-Catholic sentiment, that blocked religious schools from receiving public funds. Amendments in 37 states were "'born of bigotry' and 'arose at a time of pervasive hostility to the Catholic Church,'" he wrote. "Many of its state counterparts have a similarly 'shameful pedigree.'"

Source: USA Today on Espinosa v. Montana, No. 18-1195 Jun 30, 2020

Jon Tester: More tuition tax credits, low-interest loans, & Pell grants

You've heard a lot about how my opponent delivers for MSU. But it's the faculty and the students that do the heavy lifting to make Montana State University a world-class teaching and research facility - not whose name is on a building.

I've got a kid in college today in Montana, and one that just graduated a few years ago. So I know what college education costs you and your families. We have finally started to turn the university funding at the state level around, with the first significant funding increases after a decade of neglect. But we can do more.

I have a plan to expand tuition tax credits to make college tuition more affordable for Montana families. Sen. Burns has voted to end tuition tax credits for 11,000 Montanans. I believe we need to keep low-interest loans and increasing Pell grants. Sen. Burns has voted against higher student loans and opposes increases in Pell grants. Too many middle-class families are being priced out of the dream of providing their kids a higher education.

Source: 2006 Montana 3-way Senate Debate at MSU Oct 9, 2006

Jon Tester: Privatizing public schools feeds destruction of democracy

Q: Education: Provide vouchers to send children to private schools with public money?

Matt Rosendale (R): Yes. "Critical.if we are going to see improvement in our education system."

Jon Tester (D): No. Privatization of public schools feeds destruction of democracy.

Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Montana Senate race Oct 9, 2018

Jon Tester: Restore year-round Pell Grants, & support Perkins Loans

Q: Student Debt & Financial Aid: Lower student loan rates, while increasing high-earner taxes (Elizabeth Warren bill)?

Matt Rosendale (R): No. "Move the federal government out of the funding that takes place for the colleges & universities."

Jon Tester (D): Yes. Voted for Warren bill. Also supports restoring year-round Pell Grants, & supporting Perkins Loans.

Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Montana Senate race Oct 9, 2018

Judy Martz: More spending; more accountability via testing

We must make sure our schools remain world-class. The last legislature provided the single largest increase in education spending in our history. We propose an additional three percent increase in fiscal year 2003.

I want accountability in our schools, which is why we are moving forward on annual testing of grades, 4, 8 and 11, and compiling and disseminating results. For the first time, parents and communities will be able to compare their schools to other schools and really know where they stand.

Source: 2001 State of the State Address to Montana Legislature Jan 25, 2001

Judy Martz: 3-Rs of education: recruit, retain, & reward teachers

    My administration will focus on 4 key areas of early education:
  1. Increasing resources and teacher development
  2. Producing excellence with partnerships to mentor our kids
  3. Providing safe learning environments
  4. Implementing character education.
To accomplish any of our education objectives, we must recognize the importance of what I call my 3-Rs of education recruiting, retaining and rewarding outstanding teachers. To keep these professionals, Montana must begin to seriously compete with over 20 other states that are making major investments to lure teachers away. We want to leverage our share of the $2.4 billion in increased federal funds that President Bush has promised states for training new teachers. We'll partner with the private sector to craft mentoring programs that inspire teachers to stay in the profession. And I'll build partnerships with teachers, parents and administrators to craft a performance-based pay proposal called Investing in Teaching Excellence.
Source: 2001 State of the State Address to Montana Legislature Jan 25, 2001

Mark Perea: Allot vouchers based on what we spend now per child

Perea, who has no children, is an advocate of school choice vouchers. "I want parents to have the choice of how they educate their kids," he said. "What I think would be perfectly equitable is each individual child having an allotment based on what we spend on each child now in public schools."
Source: Bozeman Daily Chronicle on 2016 Montana gubernatorial race Feb 1, 2015

Matt Rosendale: Supports charters and vouchers; opposes tenure

Q: Do you support the national Common Core State Standards initiative?

A: Yes.

Q: Do you support a merit pay system for teachers?

A: Yes.

Q: Is the tenure process for public school teachers producing effective teachers?

A: No.

Q: Should parents be allowed to use vouchers to send their children to any school?

A: Yes.

Q: Do you support state funding for charter schools?

A: Yes.

Source: Montana 2012 Political Courage Test Nov 1, 2012

Matt Rosendale: Government out of college funding

Q: Student Debt & Financial Aid: Lower student loan rates, while increasing high-earner taxes (Elizabeth Warren bill)?

Matt Rosendale (R): No. "Move the federal government out of the funding that takes place for the colleges & universities."

Jon Tester (D): Yes. Voted for Warren bill. Also supports restoring year-round Pell Grants, & supporting Perkins Loans.

Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Montana Senate race Oct 9, 2018

Matt Rosendale: Privatization is critical to improve our education system

Q: Education: Provide vouchers to send children to private schools with public money?

Matt Rosendale (R): Yes. "Critical.if we are going to see improvement in our education system."

Jon Tester (D): No. Privatization of public schools feeds destruction of democracy.

Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Montana Senate race Oct 9, 2018

Mike Cooney: Oppose diverting public funding toward private education

He is a champion of Montana's public education system and seeks ways to support educators and increase funding. As Governor, Mike will work with partner organizations to secure a public, voluntary, quality pre-K program across the state, ensure the 6-mill levy that funds our universities becomes permanent, and increase investments in two-year colleges, apprenticeship programs, and vocational education opportunities. He will oppose any efforts to divert public funding toward private education.
Source: 2020 Montana governor campaign website CooneyForMontana.com Mar 25, 2020

Mike Cooney: More funding for Head Start and critical K-12 programs