Let’s get education back to basics

The Montana Office of Public Instruction (OPI) recently released Montana’s annual state report card and report cards for individual schools — and the results show a troubling trend. We must take action. We must get education back to basics and improve our students’ foundational skills. 

A majority of students are not proficient in reading, math, or science. Only 46 percent of Montana students are proficient in reading and only 37% in math and science. Meanwhile, we are spending a record $13,000 each year per student on education. 

As a former elementary school teacher and current administrator, I understand the pivotal role of early literacy. During their early years, children learn to read, and from there, they read to learn. I am proud of the work my colleagues and I on the Board of Public Education have accomplished over the past year. We have implemented targeted interventions for early literacy and reduced administrative burdens on schools. By reducing state bureaucracy and focusing on core subjects, we are empowering teachers to teach and students to learn. This will also help ensure that education funding is directed to classrooms and students, not administrative bureaucracy and unnecessary reporting measures. 

There is more that can be done at the Office of Public Instruction, though. The state education agency should be customer service-focused, prioritize transparent and understandable information for parents, provide high-quality professional development for teachers, and reduce administrative burdens on school leaders. That is what parents and educators expect and what taxpayers deserve. 

Additionally, the Office of Public Instruction must partner with other state agencies, the college and university system, and private sector leaders to expand student career and technical education opportunities. About half of Montana students who graduate high school each year don’t have a plan to go to college or enter the military or job training programs. As a state, our goal should be to have every student graduate high school prepared to succeed in college or with career skills that they can build upon in an on-the-job training program. This can be accomplished through collaborations with colleges and universities to expand dual credit and private sector industries, providing high school students with work-based learning opportunities in the trades and other fields relevant to our students and our Montana industries.  

With graduation right around the corner, parents deserve complete confidence that our public school system has prepared their children with the building blocks for lifelong success. I encourage all Montana families to examine how the state and local schools are doing. By getting education back to basics, we can grow student achievement in core subjects and expand individualized learning opportunities. This will prepare Montana students for future success and keep indoctrination out of the classroom. The future of Montana’s children and economy depends on it.

Susie Hedalen is a candidate for superintendent of public instruction. She is the vice-chair of the Montana Board of Public Education and the district superintendent for Townsend Public Schools.