State of Montana Archives: on Education

Greg Gianforte: More trade education scholarships; more teacher incentives

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.

Mike Cooney: Freeze college tuition; reduce student debt

Cooney: Yes. Would freeze college tuition at four-year colleges and raise funding for two-year institutions. Supports federal funding for programs supporting low-income students. Would reduce student debt.

Gianforte: No. Sees "market forces," a decrease in the availability of student loans, as helping to lower cost of tuition. Focuses on promoting "trades education and apprenticeship programs" over four-year college degrees.

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

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.

Brett Kavanaugh: States funding private schools must fund parochial schools

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.'"

Clarence Thomas: States funding private schools must fund parochial schools

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.'"

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

John Roberts: States funding private schools must fund parochial schools

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.'"

Neil Gorsuch: States funding private schools must fund parochial schools

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.'"

Ruth Bader Ginsburg: States can fund private schools but not parochial 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. 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.

Samuel Alito: States funding private schools must fund parochial schools

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.'"

Sonia Sotomayor: States can fund private schools but not parochial 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. 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.

Stephen Breyer: States can fund private schools but not parochial 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. 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.

Steve Bullock: No tax credits for religious schools

Wilmot Collins: Child's education should be determined by where they grew up

Mike Cooney: Oppose diverting public funding toward private education

Whitney Williams: Prioritize affordable childcare and preschool

Whitney Williams: Opposes efforts to fund private schools with tax dollars

Reilly Neill: Support public education across the state

Q: What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

A: Making sure people on both sides of the aisle are treated fairly is important to me. I believe equality is the foundation of our democratic system. I want to work for a strong, sustainable economy in Montana, support public education across the state, and honor & respect treaties & compacts with tribal peoples.

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

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

"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."

Steve Bullock: Freeze college tuition; college credit for veterans

Steve Bullock: 1-2-Free: High school dual enrollment to college

Jon Tester: Privatizing public schools feeds destruction of democracy

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.

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

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.

Matt Rosendale: Government out of college funding

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.

Matt Rosendale: Privatization is critical to improve our education system

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.

Steve Bullock: Increase funding for higher education

• Since 2009, 46 states have decreased their funding of higher education. In Montana we've increased funding.
• We hear that our kids are our greatest export--yet the facts show that 80% of our resident students are now employed right here in Montana within a year of graduating, up from 74% in 2009.
• Our University System, state government, and the private sector are working together to produce graduates that have a world-class education and the skills our local businesses need to grow.
• Yet, there is more to do. There are investments we can't afford NOT to make. I am asking you to increase our state's investment in K-12 by $30 million. We can also increase our support for special education by $1.5 million. We can continue investments in preserving our Native languages. We can invest $2 million dollars to further build out the internet connectivity in our schools.

Steve Bullock: Invest in publicly funded early childhood education

The average cost of childcare in Montana for a four-year old is $7,900 dollars--in other words, more than college tuition at Montana State University or the University of Montana. A mom earning minimum wage could easily spend half of her income on childcare for just one kiddo.

Let's help those families. I have proposed a $12 million preschool grant program to allow school districts, Head Start programs or high-quality private preschool providers to offer preschool for four-year-old kids at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level.

Greg Gianforte: Provides high school scholarships for computer coding

Greg Gianforte: Supports school choice and voucher initiatives

Greg Gianforte: Helped build a museum based on creationist beliefs

Brad Johnson: Supports school choice

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

Ryan Zinke: Give parents a stronger voice, and local control

Steve Daines: Expand school choice where public schools are poor

The federal government plays a limited but important role in education, especially in helping states and local governments serve disadvantaged students and those with disabilities. As I meet with educators in Montana, they seem to share a concern about "one size fits all" metrics that currently dictate federal funding as part of No Child Left Behind. While well-intended, these metrics are difficult for rural areas to achieve. As Congress works to strengthen No Child Left Behind, I will fight to ensure that all of Montana's education needs are met. As part of this effort, I will push for expanding school choice so that more parents can send their children to a high-performing school where public schools are poor.

Amanda Curtis: Math teacher and unabashed backer of public schools

Steve Bullock: Invest in higher ed for 21st Century workforce, like Diesel

The Missoula College was built in 1956 for 700 students and now has an enrollment approaching 3,000. Last week I visited the Automotive and Diesel Program at Havre. It has 200 students, a 100% placement rate, and some graduates earn a starting salary better than a Governor. But without our investment, this program cannot grow.

And it's not just Missoula and Havre; many of our facilities are outdated and operating beyond their capacity. The young Montanans who are willing to invest in higher education deserve better. That's why [the state government]--along with the Montana Chamber of Commerce, the Montana Contractors Association and others--have joined together to propose record investments in our educational facilities.

Steve Bullock: Increase from 40% to 60% those with some college

• Offering college classes to more high school students will help them recognize that higher education is within their reach and will give them a jump start on earning college credits.
• We can make it easier for students by creating a universal enrollment system, so students at Miles Community College have access to courses at Montana State University.
• We aren't going to produce more college graduates if the cost of college is beyond the reach of Montana families. When tuition increases because higher education isn't adequately funded, that's a tax on tens of thousands of working families across our state. My budget includes an agreement to freeze tuition across the university system. I urge you to honor it.

Steve Bullock: MT is dead last in investment in early childhood education

We can't expect the federally funded Head Start program to carry the entire burden. Some local communities have stepped in to make sure these youngsters are given a better chance.

As a first step, I urge this body to expand the proven "Stars to Quality Program" and make the long overdue investment in school readiness. I've laid out a plan that will create 100 more high-quality early childhood programs, getting 600 more families and 1,000 more children ready for school, annually. It's a proven high-return investment that will produce long-lived benefits for the students and our economy. And our commitment and investment must continue throughout their schooling.

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

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.

Champ Edmunds: State funding for charters and vouchers

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:

Matt Rosendale: Supports charters and vouchers; opposes tenure

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.

Sam Rankin: New reforms to replace No Child Left Behind

A: Yes.

Rankin adds, "New reforms are more reasonable than under the old N.C.L.B requirements."

Bill McChesney: No state funding for charter schools

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.

Ryan Zinke: Supports vouchers for public schools

Zinke indicates support of the following principles regarding education.
• Support state education standards and testing requirements for K-12 students.
• Support requiring public schools to administer high school exit exams.
• Allow parents to use vouchers to send their children to any public school.
• Provide state funding to increase teacher salaries.
• Support using a merit pay system for teachers.
• Provide state funding for tax incentives and financial aid to help make college more affordable.
• Zinke adds, "I strongly support recruiting and maintaining quality classroom teachers. I strongly support providing incentives for Montana kids to stay in Montana after graduation. I strongly support vocation schools that provide needed skills in the Montana marketplace."

Ryan Zinke: Voluntary prayer provided there's no undue influence

A: Yes.

Q: Do you support voluntary prayer in public schools?

A: Yes.

Q: Do you support sexual education programs that include information on abstinence, contraceptives, and HIV/STD prevention methods?

A: Yes.

Q: Do you support abstinence-only sexual education programs?

A: No.

Zinke adds, "I support allowing voluntary prayer on public property provided there is no undue influence to do so."

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

Cooney supported the following principles regarding education?
• Provide state funding to increase teacher salaries.
• Increase funding for Head Start programs.
• Provide state funding for tax incentives and financial aid to help make college more affordable.
• Cooney adds, "As the Chairman of the Senate Finance and Claims committee in the 2005 session, I worked hard to balance the state budget while more appropriately funding critical programs like K-12 education without raising taxes." Source: 2006 Montana Gubernatorial National Political Awareness Test Nov 1, 2006

  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

  Bob Kelleher: Supports voluntary prayer in public schools

  Kelleher supports the following principles regarding education:
  • Endorse voluntary prayer in public schools.
  • Support sexual education programs that include information on abstinence, contraceptives, and HIV/STD prevention methods.
  • Support abstinence-only sexual education programs.
  • Provide state funding for tax incentives and financial aid to help make college more affordable.
  Source: Montana 2004 Gubernatorial National Political Awareness Test Nov 1, 2004

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

  Kelleher supports the following principles regarding education:
  • Provide parents with state-funded vouchers to send their children to any private or religious school.
  • Increase state funds for school capital improvements (e.g. buildings and infrastructure).
  • Support teacher testing and reward with merit pay.
  • Require public schools to administer high school exit exams.
  • Provide state funding to increase teacher salaries.
  Source: Montana 2004 Gubernatorial National Political Awareness Test Nov 1, 2004

  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

  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

  John Bohlinger: More finds for hiring teachers & professional development

  Bohlinger Indicates support of the following principles regarding education.
  • Increase state funds for professional development of public school teachers and administrators.
  • Encourage private or corporate investment in public school programs.
  • Increase state funds for hiring of additional teachers.
  • Increase state spending on the university system
  Source: Montana Legislative 1998 National Political Awareness Test Nov 1, 1998

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

  Bohlinger Indicates support of the following principles regarding education.
  • Support sex education programs which stress abstinence.
  • Support sex education programs that stress safe sexual practices.
  • Endorse teacher-led voluntary prayer in public schools.
  Source: Montana Legislative 1998 National Political Awareness Test Nov 1, 1998

  The above quotations are from State of Montana Politicians: Archives. Click here for definitions & background information on Education. Click here for other issues (main summary page).
  2020 Presidential contenders on Education:
  	Democrats running for President: Sen.Michael Bennet (D-CO) V.P.Joe Biden (D-DE) Mayor Mike Bloomberg (I-NYC) Gov.Steve Bullock (D-MT) Mayor Pete Buttigieg (D-IN) Sen.Cory Booker (D-NJ) Secy.Julian Castro (D-TX) Gov.Lincoln Chafee (L-RI) Rep.John Delaney (D-MD) Rep.Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI) Sen.Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) Gov.Deval Patrick (D-MA) Sen.Bernie Sanders (I-VT) CEO Tom Steyer (D-CA) Sen.Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) Marianne Williamson (D-CA) CEO Andrew Yang (D-NY) 2020 Third Party Candidates: Rep.Justin Amash (L-MI) CEO Don Blankenship (C-WV) Gov.Lincoln Chafee (L-RI) Howie Hawkins (G-NY) Gov.Gary Johnson(L-NM) Howard Schultz(I-WA) Gov.Jesse Ventura (I-MN)	Republicans running for President: Sen.Ted Cruz(R-TX) Gov.Larry Hogan (R-MD) Gov.John Kasich(R-OH) V.P.Mike Pence(R-IN) Gov.Mark Sanford (R-SC) Pres.Donald Trump(R-NY) Rep.Joe Walsh (R-IL) Gov.Bill Weld(R-MA & L-NY) 2020 Withdrawn Democratic Candidates: Sen.Stacey Abrams (D-GA) Mayor Bill de Blasio (D-NYC) Sen.Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) Sen.Mike Gravel (D-AK) Sen.Kamala Harris (D-CA) Gov.John Hickenlooper (D-CO) Gov.Jay Inslee (D-WA) Mayor Wayne Messam (D-FL) Rep.Seth Moulton (D-MA) Rep.Beto O`Rourke (D-TX) Rep.Tim Ryan (D-CA) Adm.Joe Sestak (D-PA) Rep.Eric Swalwell (D-CA)
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  Page last updated: Oct 13, 2021