Defining a quality education is debated
This session, I was allowed two pages. I am looking forward to the arrival of Jenny Tiskus (Polson High School) in March and Nicole Callahan (St. Ignatius High School) in April. These two young women are talented, bright and impressive. I am sure they will do an excellent job and represent their respective high schools well.
Education funding and defining what a quality education is has drawn heated debate in Helena. Several bills have been submitted and proposals have been introduced to put an end to the debate and find a way to fund public education.
Although this discussion is necessary, we cannot lose sight of the significance that public education plays in Montana.
All Montana kids deserve the opportunity to go to world-class schools that can provide them the tools necessary to learn important skills they will apply in the future. We cannot afford to short-change our children; we can do better.
Economic development and jobs are closely tied to education. An educated workforce attracts more business and better-paying jobs. Montana needs more highly skilled workers in logging, energy production, loan reclamation, and communication technologies.
As a member of the House Education committee, I am working hard to ensure children and adults alike have access to a quality, affordable education. The House Education committee has heard many bills this last month. A few of those bills that would be beneficial to the people of Lake County are HB 16 (Ripley-R), HB 435 (Branae-D), and HB 137 (Juneau-D)
HB 16 will provide access to college for the many people that are living in areas that Tribal colleges serve; and it will do so without obligating the State for any costs for infrastructure such as buildings, libraries, laboratories and equipment. SKC is a key factor for economic growth in Lake County; and HB 16 will provide adequate funding for the non-beneficiary students, giving them the opportunity to pursue their educational goals while remaining in their community.
HB 435 (Branae-D) is Governor Schweitzer's "Best and Brightest" scholarship bill. The bill provides scholarships for Montana high school graduates based on merit or on need. Kids who graduate from Montana high schools should be able to afford to go to a two- or four-year school in Montana. During the hearing on this bill, testimony was given by several high school seniors, who were going to college out-of-state … because it cost less. HB 435 opens up the opportunity for lower income Montana families to send their sons and daughters to a Montana college, university, or vocational institution.
HB 137 (Juneau-D) establishes a dropout prevention program that helps school districts identify and help at-risk students who are more likely than others to dropout from school. Montana's Indian Reservations in particular struggle with high dropout rates. This bill would help fight those rates, which on reservations can be close to 50 percent.
We are now a third of the way through the Session and it is very clear that all of the legislators are concerned about Montana kids getting a quality education. The questions continue to be: "What is a quality basic education?" and "How do we implement it?" It's not all about money, but we are fooling ourselves if we think that educating our children so that they can be successful in a competitive work force does not come with a price tag.
Contact address:
Representative Jeanne Windham, Montana House of Representatives,
PO Box 200400, Helena, MT 59620-0400; phones: Capitol: (406) 444-4800; cell: (406) 544-8086; email:
windham@centurytel.net