Online Schools: Montana

Since being granted statehood in 1889, Montana has been recognized as a beacon of nature at its full glory. Well known for its expanses of national forest parks including Glacier National Park and part of Yellowstone National Park, Montana is dubbed “That Last Best Place” because of its sheer size and undeveloped land. Montana is the 48th largest state in the country area wise, but is ranked just 44th in terms of population. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that ranching, wheat farming, coal mining, lumber, rock mining, and tourism are some of the leading industries in the state of Montana.

Starting in the late 1990s, education groups began pushing for new legislation to develop a statewide online virtual school. Montana is one of just ten states that have not passed legislation for charter school operation, therefore the need for an online school option for K-12 students rested on the public schools’ shoulders. After a few failed attempts, the bill HB459 requiring there to be an online school in Montana available to students passed in 2009.

Montana Digital Academy (MTDA) was opened for the 2010-2011 school year and reported 4,551 class enrollments in its first school year. MTDA is state-run and funded. Students are required to sign up for courses through their local public school and all teachers working for MTDA must meet state certification requirements. MTDA was strongly supported as a means to give the many students living in rural Montana access to more educational opportunities. Unique offerings from MTDA include Mandarin Chinese, Latin, oceanography electives, digital photography, and more. The online school organization partners with key advisors throughout the state including the Montana Rural Education Association, Schools Administrators of Montana, Montana Schools Boards Association, and a few more.

Montana online school alternatives aren’t limited to K-12 students however, with many of the public and private universities offering a range of virtual courses and degrees. As of 2012, Montana State University had 5 graduate certificates and 9 graduate degree programs that allowed students to complete their entire degree online. Many of the community colleges and major tribal colleges also offer online learning options. Coursework from online schools in Montana is often focused in agriculture, education, sciences, and Native American studies. These subjects are either current leading industries in the state or are areas where the state is aggressively trying to expand its reach.

Although Montana’s online school options started a few years after many other states in the country, they are already seeing more enrollments than expected. When it comes to online schools, Montana appears to be welcoming the alternative learning method with open arms.

• Colleges & Universities