Signs into law the STARS Act

HELENA, MT - Governor Greg Gianforte today secured historic funding to raise starting teacher pay, signing into law the STARS Act to continue incentivizing school districts to increase to baseline teacher pay.

The STARS Act, or Student and Teacher Advancement for Results and Success Act, invests a historic $100 million to raise teacher pay, with a focus on educators who are just starting their careers.

“Building on the success of the TEACH Act, I am proud to continue our historic progress to raise starting teacher pay,” Governor Gianforte said. “Our top priority must remain recruiting the highest quality teachers for our students, this $100 million investment is the next step in the right direction to support our educators.”

Sponsored by Rep. Llew Jones, R-Conrad, the STARS Act is a signature element of the governor’s Path to Security and Prosperity budget, proposed last November.

“In Montana, we’ve recognized that our beginning teacher pay needed to increase to attract teachers and retain new or beginning teachers,” Rep. Jones said. “I’m grateful to the governor for signing the STARS Act into law, building on our previous work with the TEACH Act. By increasing pay and expanding career and technical education, STARS will ensure that Montana schools can recruit and retain high-quality beginning teachers and bring about a brighter future for Montana’s students.”

“We are grateful to Representative Llew Jones for sponsoring this bill and to Governor Greg Gianforte for signing it into law,” Superintendent Hedalen said. “As a former educator and superintendent, I know how important it is to support our Montana school districts as they compete for highly qualified educators, ensuring our students receive the best education possible. This legislation opens the door for rewarding schools that offer innovative programs like work-based learning and dual credit opportunities.”

In his first week in office, Gov. Gianforte introduced the TEACH Act, or Tomorrow’s Educators Are Coming Home Act, to provide 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. In 2023, the governor increased funding for the program by 40 percent.

Signing into law House Bill 252, the governor established the STARS Act to continue incentivizing increases to baseline teacher pay while also fully funding the Advanced Opportunities Act so that more students can take advantage of dual credit and work-based learning.