Teacher head count comes up short again

As of Aug. 1, the Office of Public Instruction’s employment portal listed 853 active job postings for licensed public school positions in Montana. The postings include openings for teachers, counselors, administrators and paraprofessionals in school districts across Montana, and may capture some redundant listings or positions that have recently been filled.

With the start of the 2024-25 school year approaching, Montana schools of all sizes are once again contending with the state’s ongoing teacher shortage. Challenges finding qualified applicants to fill open positions have prompted many dist...