Montana schools must focus on preparing students for college, work. "The State with the Best Education Wins!"

If Montana’s ahead of the game, let’s hear specifics for how good we are by an outside auditor.

In not applying for Race to the Top incentive monies, the Montana superintendent of public instruction gives as reasons that state rules and labor contracts would have to be changed. Grant awards will be for change and innovation of substance. The better reason might be the short application time and real difficulty for Montana to meet grant qualifications. It is doubtful that federal money will be going to states for cosmetic changes or anything less than substance. The superintendent makes two claims. “Our schools are doing pretty well right now; they are being innovative.”

What evidence supports that?

If the basis for “doing pretty well” is graduation rate, dropout rates, school average ACT scores and No Child Left Behind scores, you may want to rethink that.

How many high school graduates are college-ready for reading, writing, and math on the state public university placement exam? Ready means students qualify for college-level courses — not remedial courses that upwards of 40 percent of freshman have to take.

By WOODROW H. JENSEN

Full Story: http://www.billingsgazette.com/news/opinion/guest/article_c56d54ae-094e-11df-a5fa-001cc4c03286.html