“A lot of other states have similar suits and similar decisions to Montana,” said Molly Hunter, director of the National Equity Network at New York's Columbia University. “But the results, pardon the pun, are all over the map.”
Hunter is the keynote speaker at Thursday's seminar on the effects of the 2005 special legislative session. The gathering is the third installment of the University of Montana's “The Montana Constitution: Progressive Spirit of the Rocky Mountain West” lecture series. The National Equity Network has become a resource in numerous school funding “adequacy” lawsuits and related disputes in more than 40 states.
“Montana's experience would be pretty much in the middle with a lot of other states,” Hunter said. “Like a lot of states, it has disparities in achievement, particularly with low-income students. There is reason for optimism. As each state struggles through this, they usually find some good solutions.”
The demands of federal No Child Left Behind rules feed into that, although in a separate channel. Hunter said it's unlikely that a federal solution will be imposed nationwide on education reform. That's because of a 1973 federal court ruling that found no mention or right to education in the U.S. Constitution. As a result, challenges to education systems have to take place in state courts according to specific state constitutions.
Thursday's gathering also offers two panel discussion featuring advocates and legislators involved in the special session's results. The advocate panel includes Jim Clark, superintendent of Missoula County Public Schools; Jack Copps, executive director of the Montana Quality Education Coalition; David Ewer, the governor's budget director; Eric Feaver, president of the Montana Education Association and Montana Federation of Teachers; Denise Juneau, director of Indian Education with the Office of Public Instruction; and Lance Melton, executive director of the Montana School Boards Association.
The second panel brings together Rep. Norma Bixby, D-Lame Deer; Rep. Bill Glaser, R-Huntley; Rep. Bob Lake, R-Hamilton; Sen. Dave Lewis, R-Helena; Rep. Holly Raser, D-Missoula; and Sen. Don Ryan, D-Great Falls.
Listen and learn
A schedule of Thursday's seminar at the University of Montana on education funding is online at crmw.org/schoolfundingseminar.
To register for the $10 event, reach Jeannie Thompson at 243-7700 or thompson@crmw.org. Attendees also can earn five Continuing Legal Education credits, Office of Public Instruction renewal units or Pupil Instruction Related credits.
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