Project Timeline:  July 1, 2025-June 30, 2027

Legislative Appropriation:  $500,000 expended through subgrants to Post Secondary Campus Grow Your Own Programs

The 2025 Legislature appropriated funding for the Montana Grow Your Own Educator Program through HB 499. It is designed to support Montana college campuses in developing and offering programs that assist high school students and adult learners in earning an education degree in the communities where they live. 

Two grants were awarded with the 2025 appropriation:

  • Montana State University/Blackfeet Community College will deliver a community-centered teacher preparation initiative that will prepare educators in Browning and Glendive and along the Hi-Line by expanding course modalities and expanding competency-based education work.
  • University of Montana Western will expand the very successful Great Falls Public School CORE school model to the Lewistown Central Montana Academy and deliver teacher preparation to small cohorts from multiple rural communities by engaging the Central Montana Academy as the hub.

Number of students currently participating:

  • Fall 2025: 21
  • Target number for Fall 2026 cohort: 24

For more information about the program, contact Angela McLean at amclean@montana.edu

We are grateful to Representative Thedis Crowe for sponsoring HB 499 and to Governor Gianforte who signed the bill on Friday, June 20, 2025, for making Grow Your Own Educator funding possible.

 

hand holding a plant