Encourages school districts to apply for TEACH Act funding

WIBAUX, MT – Continuing his 56 County Tour, Governor Greg Gianforte on Oct 10th, heard the story of a Wibaux Public Schools teacher who received an increase in her starting teacher pay thanks to the governor’s investment in the TEACH Act.

“Teaching is a calling, and we're committed to taking better care of those who help our kids reach their full potential,” Gov. Gianforte said. “Through our investments in the TEACH Act, we’re boosting starting teacher pay and encouraging more Montanans to enter the profession.”

Gov. Gianforte talking with Wibaux Public School teacher Alex Cameron

Introduced in the governor’s first week in office, the TEACH Act, or Tomorrow’s Educators Are Coming Home Act, provides incentives to school districts to increase starting teacher pay. In its first year, the TEACH Act helped nearly 500 teachers begin their careers in Montana. This spring, the governor increased funding for the program by 40 percent.

Visiting with Wibaux Middle School teacher Alex Cameron and Superintendent Annie Begger, the governor heard about the benefits of the TEACH Act to boost starting teacher pay and about the impacts of other investments in education.

“I started teaching here 3 years ago, and thanks to the boost in pay from the TEACH Act, my husband and I had more money in our pocket to pay for our mortgage and daycare for our newborn,” Cameron said.

Earlier this month, the Office of Public Instruction opened applications for school districts to apply for TEACH Act funding by December 1. Teachers within their first three years of teaching are eligible to receive the incentive.

In addition to increasing starter teacher pay, the governor last year funded Montana’s K-12 public schools at record levels and strengthened the Montana Digital Academy that offers students virtual curriculum that might not be available in their physical school that they can access anytime and anywhere.

Wibaux Public Schools uses the Montana Digital Academy to offer students courses from criminology to Montana history. Superintendent Begger said over 10 students utilize the opportunity.

“We don’t have the staff to offer those other classes, through the digital academy we are able to offer more options and bring in a different anatomy of classes that we can’t expose our students to in any other way,” Supt. Begger added.

The governor last year also expanded work-based learning opportunities for Montana students, signing three bills into law to support schools in offering internships, apprenticeships, and Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs.

Over 70 percent of Wibaux Public Schools high school seniors participate in work-based learning opportunities in the community, spending two hours every day getting hands-on experience in a career.

For school districts interested in more information on how to apply for TEACH Act funding, see here.