KALISPELL, Mont. – Joining students, educators, and business leaders at Flathead High School (FHS), Governor Greg Gianforte today promoted expanding individualized and work-based learning opportunities for Montana students.

“Student success and Montana’s future depend on classroom innovation and individualized and work-based learning,” Gov. Gianforte said. “Working with the legislature in 2021, we made it possible for schools to develop individual learning paths for every student, and we’re building on that progress this year to deliver the best education possible for our kids.”

Gov. Gianforte listening to Hunter Nicholson, a student a Flathead High School, talk about his work-based learning experience

Following a tour of Kalispell Public Schools' agricultural education center, Gov. Gianforte convened a roundtable discussion on career and technical education (CTE) programs offered in Flathead County with high school seniors, educators, and business leaders.

“CTE programs prepare students for the jobs of tomorrow and build a highly skilled, highly qualified workforce. We’ve seen great success with this here in the Flathead and throughout the state,” the governor said in his opening remarks.

During the roundtable, students discussed their work-based learning experiences in which they earn credit to apply toward high school graduation.

“I did this internship to decide if I want to pursue a future in this field, and it’s been great to get hands on experience with my project to get a glimpse of what a career in architecture looks like,” said Cyan Mooney, a FHS senior who is currently interning at A&E Design, a local architecture firm.

The program also supports employers. Shane Jacobs, an architect at A&E Design and Cyan’s supervisor, said, “It has been awesome to have Cyan to help us meet our needs. She’s really moving things forward for us, especially when it comes to our project with Kalispell schools. The program offered at Flathead High is a great experience that we are proud to support.”

To expand work-based learning opportunities in Montana, the governor praised the legislature’s progress toward passing HB 257, a bill expanding the Advanced Opportunities Program that Rep. Courtenay Sprunger, R-Kalispell, sponsors.

In line with the governor’s priorities, the bill strengthens the Advanced Opportunities Program to ensure more Montana students are college or career ready with in-demand skills, granting $4 million annually to schools to create work-based and personalized learning programs for students.

“With it, we’ll open the doors to greater opportunity for our kids, regardless of the next path they choose,” Gov. Gianforte said. HB 257 passed the House 87-10 in late February and is scheduled for a hearing in the Senate tomorrow, after an initial vote of 34-16 in the Senate.

The governor said he was optimistic about the legislature advancing measures that enhance individualized learning and transform the Montana Digital Academy.

“Taken together, these reforms will give students and parents maximum flexibility for the courses they want to take, whether within the district, through the Digital Academy, or on a jobsite for work-based learning,” Gov. Gianforte said.

The governor discussed other proposals moving through the legislature to develop Montana’s skilled workforce and, in turn, help increase housing capacity in Montana.

Gov. Gianforte spoke with the group about one of his proposed pro-housing reforms, the Home Ownership Means Economic Security (HOMES) program, carried in legislation by Rep. Mike Hopkins, R-Missoula.

“We want to encourage smart, denser housing development using incentives and an innovative, market-based approach. We’ll keep working to get the HOMES program across the finish line so we can increase the supply of housing, and I’m optimistic we’ll get there,” the governor concluded.