HELENA – The state of Montana has applied for $31.7 million in federal education funds included in a $26 billion jobs and Medicaid bill.
Gov. Brian Schweitzer’s education adviser Dan Villa says the application was sent in Wednesday. Now the state has 60 days to show the U.S. Department of Education how Montana qualifies for the funding meant to rehire laid off teachers or prevent future teacher layoffs.
Villa told the Lee Newspapers State Bureau that he expects the state to receive the money in October or November and it will be up to Superintendent of Public Instruction Denise Juneau to decide how to distribute the money.
Montana School Boards Association executive director Lance Melton said schools should be able to decide if they’ll use the money for this school year or the next.