Education News

National statistics referenced in the July 13 editorial in the IR make it clear that Montana is far behind the nation in capitalizing on the ability of two-year colleges to provide low-cost, no-nonsense education that will move the economy forward.

"Privatization or privately financed public universities is the 800-pound gorilla that’s vastly exaggerated," said David Breneman, professor and dean of education at the University of Virginia.

State support for operating expenses at public colleges and universities in fiscal 2004 topped $60 billion. It’s unlikely that schools could replace those funds with either collective endowments or increased tuition revenue, Breneman said.

All Idaho students, from kindergarten through high school, will have access to a new federally funded computer program that aims to help teach standards-based curricula.

"I believe I will come back a more well-rounded person and that this experience will enhance my understanding of business on a global scale."

States are seeking to increase the numbers of students that transition successfully from high school to college. One popular policy option is to encourage dual enrollment of students in both secondary and postsecondary institutions which allows them to earn credits for high school and college at the same time.

In a study of school districts with court-mandated public school funding, increases in education spending immediately raised real estate values.

Of the total, about $746,000 will be used for the college’s process-plant technology program and about $438,000 will go to health-care programs.

Students might learn math by laying out the garden plots. Biology and earth science lessons can be taught as students prepare soil, gauge the weather and harvest food. Grinding corn can be the basis for a lesson on pre- Columbian civilizations. Recipe writing can become an English lesson. Digging weeds might count as physical education.

"It just seemed like a huge opportunity for Coors to spend time with future business leaders," Guthrie said. "It really exceeded our expectations. We were able to touch some future business leaders and have some smart people think about our business."

Montana needs to stop viewing two-year colleges as second class citizens and do a better job of using its skilled workforce to lure companies, Butte leaders said Tuesday.