Teacher pay, school funding and math skills top on Montana lawmakers' priority list

Increasing teacher pay, finding ways to get more money to school districts and boosting students' early math skills are on the agenda as Montana legislators plan to take up a broad range of proposals this year addressing the K-12 system's most chronic challenges.

On the funding front, several House Republicans have already signaled plans to tackle one of the most pressing education issues in the state: teacher pay. Low starting salaries for early career educators are a driving factor in Montana's ongoing teacher shortage, making it hard for many local districts to recruit and retain staff.

Mon...