Administrators: At least $65 million more needed for Montana schools

Montana’s schools needed at least $65 million more in funding from the state to meet accreditation standards and provide a quality education last school year, school finance experts told lawmakers Tuesday.

The figure is based on surveys completed by 331 school administrators across the state this summer. The surveys, sent to all districts, revealed a need for more at-risk and special education funding, as well as money to implement Indian Education for All and explore better ways to pay for facilities, University of Montana education professor Merle Farrier told the Quality Schools Interim Committee.

“I don’t see this as a legislative problem near as much as I see it as a statewide challenge,” he said. “This challenge belongs to all of us.”

By SARAH COOKE Associated Press

Full Story: http://missoulian.com/articles/2005/08/30/breaker/doc4314be7c5de97646423427.txt