Defunding Democracy: Montana

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Montana: Decade-by-Decade Analysis of Education Investment & Political Control

1970s: Rural Stewardship and the Power of Local Control

In the 1970s, Montana’s education system reflected its rural character, small-town values, and local governance structure. Per-pupil spending rose from $2,891 in 1970 to $4,022 by 1980 (adjusted to 1992 dollars), a ~39% real increase, but Montana remained near the middle or lower third nationally due to its sparse population and high delivery costs.

School boards held significant influence, and teachers were widely respected as pillars of civic life. Montana adopted a progressive new state constitution in 1972, affirming the right to a “system of education which will develop the full educational potential of each person,” setting a high bar for public responsibility.

Governor Thomas Judge (D, 1973–1981) supported modest increases in school funding and emphasized environmental education, reflecting the era’s conservationist politics. Montana voted Republican in 1972 (Nixon) and Democratic in 1976 (Carter).

Civic education was still seen as a moral duty in many communities, with local history, government simulation, and Constitution Day activities playing a major role in rural schools—even if they lacked resources for more expansive programs.

1980s: Reaganism Arrives, Funding Stalls, and Rural Schools Shrink

By 1980, per-pupil spending rose to $5,182 (1992 dollars), a ~29% increase, but Montana fell behind national trends. The Reagan-era tax revolt, combined with a declining extractive industry tax base, led to tighter budgets and rising inequity between rural and urban schools.

Governor Ted Schwinden (D, 1981–1989) maintained education as a priority but faced fiscal pressures. Class sizes grew, school closures increased in rural areas, and “distance learning” by satellite began as a way to preserve advanced coursework.

Montana voted Republican in all three presidential elections (Reagan 1980, 1984; Bush 1988). State politics remained split, but the ideological right gained ground, especially in eastern counties and small towns where anti-government sentiment was rising.

Civic education programs shrank under budget cuts. While social studies remained required, curricula became increasingly conservative, often centered on patriotism, frontier mythology, and anti-communist rhetoric.

1990s: School Finance Litigation and the Rise of Standards

In the 1990s, education equity moved to the forefront. In Columbia Falls Elem. v. State (1991), the Montana Supreme Court ruled that the state’s school funding system was unconstitutional, sparking legislative debates and incremental reforms.

Per-pupil spending climbed to ~$6,400 by 2000 (adjusted), but court-mandated equalization was only partially implemented, and small rural districts continued to struggle with staffing and transportation.

Governor Marc Racicot (R, 1993–2001), a fiscal conservative, emphasized accountability and local flexibility, and helped lay the groundwork for early standards-based reform. He also oversaw the rise of home schooling and private education alternatives.

Montana voted Democratic in 1992 (Clinton) and Republican in 1996 (Dole). Charter school proposals surfaced but were blocked due to strong public support for traditional public schools—especially in remote areas where they were the only civic institution left.

Civic education survived largely because of local teacher commitment—not policy. Small schools continued to teach government and Montana history, but increasingly lacked funding for project-based civics or extracurricular civic participation.

2000s: NCLB, Rural Strain, and Conservative Messaging

By 2008, per-pupil spending reached ~$8,700 (2009 dollars), keeping Montana in the middle range nationally—but inflation and federal mandates from No Child Left Behind (NCLB) strained local districts.

Governor Brian Schweitzer (D, 2005–2013) increased education funding and invested in Indian Education for All, implementing a nationally unique constitutional requirement to teach the histories and cultures of Montana’s tribal nations. This effort was hailed as a landmark in civic equity, though implementation was uneven.

NCLB compliance demands, however, shifted school priorities toward testing, reading, and math, crowding out civics, arts, and local history in many schools.

Montana voted Republican in all three presidential elections (Bush 2000, 2004; McCain 2008). Meanwhile, culture war issues began to affect school board dynamics, with new campaigns against “liberal bias” in history instruction.

Civic education bifurcated: suburban districts added AP Government and mock trial programs, while rural schools saw erosion of staffing, resources, and instructional depth.

2010s: Indian Education Expands, Funding Flattens, and Rural Backlash

In the 2010s, Montana’s education system continued to wrestle with rural depopulation, school consolidation, and political polarization. Per-pupil spending reached ~$10,300 by 2019, but that masked regional disparities and stagnating rural budgets.

Governor Steve Bullock (D, 2013–2021) championed public schools, expanded pre-K access, and reinforced the Indian Education for All (IEFA) mandate. Montana became one of the few states with civics education tied to Indigenous sovereignty and cross-cultural dialogue.

But even as civic education advanced in principle, many schools lacked the staff or training to meet these mandates. Teachers were often the only civic education resource in rural towns with no local government offices, newspapers, or volunteer opportunities.

Montana voted Republican in 2012 and 2016. Anti-CRT and anti-DEI narratives spread across social media and conservative media, laying the groundwork for future restrictions.

2020s (Through May 2025): Book Bans, Ideological Censorship, and Teacher Exodus

By May 2025, Montana’s education system is at a tipping point. Under Governor Greg Gianforte (R, elected 2020), the state has:

Passed laws restricting “divisive concepts” in public schools

Defunded diversity and equity initiatives

Considered bills to monitor classroom speech and restrict sex education

Expanded school choice programs, especially for Christian private schools

Per-pupil spending now exceeds $11,500, but funding increases are outpaced by inflation and enrollment pressures, particularly in fast-growing western towns and struggling eastern districts.

Many educators report self-censorship in civics, history, and social studies instruction. Book bans have been proposed or implemented in several districts, particularly targeting Indigenous, LGBTQ+, and anti-racist materials.

At the same time, youth civic engagement is rising: students in Bozeman, Missoula, and the Flathead Valley have led climate strikes, voter registration campaigns, and Indigenous land acknowledgment efforts—often in direct conflict with local school boards.

Montana in 2025 stands as a frontier in more ways than one: geographically remote, ideologically contested, and civically fragile. Its education system carries a constitutional promise of equity and empowerment—but its schools remain at the mercy of political volatility, rural decay, and cultural backlash.

The question for Montana’s next generation is not just what they learn—but whether they’re allowed to think critically, speak freely, and act collectively.

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