Education
Fauci: Pandemic was ‘worst nightmare’
The No. 1 question for Dr. Anthony Fauci on Wednesday during the 2021 Mansfield Lecture was this: “When are we going to be back to normal?” Fauci, who spoke to 6,000 people via Zoom during a nearly hour-long question-and-answer session moderated by University of Montana professor Rob Saldin, said he couldn’t offer a precise answer. […]
House committee passes campus ‘freedom of association’ bill
A House panel voted to approve legislation Wednesday that would prevent public university administrations and student governments from giving disparate treatment to student groups based on a group’s ideology, goals or bylaws, one of multiple bills moving through the Legislature this session addressing First Amendment rights on college campuses. The House Judiciary Committee passed the […]
Bill promotes ‘school choice’ for special needs children
Avery Monroe, 7, takes medication for epilepsy, and the medicine has set her back in school. This week, Avery asked the House Education Committee to vote yes on a bill that would allow public money to go into a savings account that would reimburse parents for private education costs for students with special needs, such […]
Superintendent Arntzen delivers State of Education
Superintendent of Public Instruction Elsie Arntzen said Thursday she has directed staff to make building industry partnerships a priority. In her State of Education address, Arntzen said she was pleased to join Montanans in a CTE (career and technical education) workforce development “superhighway,” and noted the Office of Public Instruction has developed a one-stop website […]
Biden’s nominees for labor and education move forward
WASHINGTON—Miguel Cardona was one step closer to leading the U.S. Department of Education on Thursday after the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee moved his nomination to the full Senate for a vote. The panel voted 17-5. Senators also voted 18-4 to advance the nomination of Boston Mayor Marty Walsh to serve as secretary of […]
Tax credit program to cost $9M
The price tag during the course of four years for the state of Montana to run a greatly expanded schools tax credit program would be nearly $9 million, according to a budget analysis attached to House Bill 279. “Talk about growing government,” said Amanda Curtis, president of the Montana Federation of Public Employees, in a […]
Community college bills advance in Montana Legislature
The Montana House passed on second reading a bill to change the funding formula for community colleges and tie it more closely to actual enrollment. Supporters of House Bill 67 argue it provides a more prudent funding formula. But college presidents have said their balance sheets will suffer if the bill is signed into law. […]
Students don’t want House Bill 112
I wish urge our legislators to vote no on House Bill 112 which would require athletic teams to be designated based on biological sex. As the appointed ASMSU lobbyist, it is my duty to explain why this bill is neither wanted nor needed at Montana State University. This session, legislators have emphasized the importance of […]
Supporters, opponents of ‘gun bill’ both believe the law is on their side
As a controversial gun-rights bill makes it way through the Montana legislature, lawmakers report concern from a variety of constituents. House Bill 102, sponsored by Rep. Seth Berglee, R-Joliet, would make carrying concealed weapons legal in more places, including banks, bars and college campuses. While Second Amendment proponents have hailed HB102, and other states have […]
Gianforte’s policy director pushes education bill
Gov. Greg Gianforte’s policy director asked legislators on Wednesday to pass a bill that would instruct high schools requiring a foreign language to offer computer programming as an alternative. “For many of Montana’s students, computer coding might be a better option than foreign language,” said policy director Glenn Oppel. He said the governor is “passionate […]
Education secretary nominee says teachers should be prioritized for vaccines
WASHINGTON—The president’s pick to lead the U.S. Education Department said Wednesday that he wants teachers at the front of the line for vaccinations as local leaders debate reopening schools amid the pandemic. Miguel Cardona, a veteran educator from Connecticut, in his Senate confirmation hearing also faced questions from several Republicans about transgender students’ participation in […]
‘Fauci effect’ hits Montana
The University of Montana received three applications for its master’s in public health by the priority deadline in January last year. This year, UM got 22 applications by the early deadline, and it’s anticipating more before March 1. “We’ve never had an influx of (MPH applications) like this,” said Tony Ward, chairman of UM’s School […]