Despite years of funding increases for education, including the huge increase from the 2002 special session (which our understated governor labeled "historic), Montana's education system still ranks low compared with other states.  The AP reports today that "the nonpartisan National Council on Teacher Quality gave Montana mostly failing marks in all six areas studied" in a recent report from that group.  State OPI Superintendent, Linda McCulloch, was aloof in her response, questioning the report's credibility rather than addressing the problems.

In McCulloch's defense, Montana does rank high in other categories, including student test scores.  However, under her watch, beginning teacher pay has continued to rank among the lowest in the nation, which has hit rural schools particularly hard.  (The Gazette has a separate story today on the impact that teacher pay is having on rural schools.)

Hmmm, so why if we've increased ed funding by so much in recent years does beginning teacher pay stay so low?  Could it be that to make our starting pay competitive with other states we'd be taking away the primary hot-button issue that the teacher's union has been rallying around for years?