NEWS

$1 million grant to improve college readiness in state

Kristen Cates
GreatFalls

Montana’s Native American students, veterans and schools are getting a big boost in their college and career readiness efforts, officials announced Tuesday in Great Falls.

USA Funds, a national organization aimed at improving access to postsecondary education, is giving the state $1 million to improve three key areas to student success, Gov. Steve Bullock announced.

The grant will be split between Jobs for Montana Graduates to expand programming in tribal communities; the Montana University System to provide assistance to veterans seeking a college degree; and create an apprenticeship program for Montana’s tribal colleges.

“This investment is going to make a meaningful impact,” Bullock said.

Bullock serves on the board of the national Jobs for America’s Graduates program and came in contact with USA Funds CEO Bill Hansen. His organization is regularly looking for opportunities to improve access to higher education, and Bullock said leaders were keen on helping Native American students.

Montana’s Superintendent of Schools Denise Juneau said two-thirds of Montana’s Native American students graduate from high school. When they are part of a Jobs for Montana Graduates program, the rate increases to 90 percent.

For the last few years, Yenta Jaques has taught a JMG class at Paris Gibson Education Center. This year, it expanded to Great Falls High with Indian education coach Michelle Mitchell teaching the class specifically designed for Native American students. The USA Funds grant will expand JMG programming to several schools on our near reservations.

Keyshaun Lefthand and Kiahna DeRoche are two of the students in the new JMG class at GFH. They are only five days into the school year, but they already are seeing the benefit of this class. DeRoche, a senior, is hoping this class will help her figure out what she wants to do after high school. Lefthand is looking to find resources as he makes his way through high school.

“There is already a lot of stuff we’re working on,” Lefthand said. “It’s helping us get ready for life ahead.”

Clayton Christian, commissioner of higher education in Montana, said the Board of Regents is set to approve a proposal this month to provide prior learning assessments for veterans entering the Montana University System. By doing this, Christian said colleges can issue credit to veterans based on prior experience in structured learning environments.

There are several structured learning environments within the military that could be applicable to a veteran’s college degree and that time spent learning on the job shouldn’t be discounted.

“It’s got to be sort of a structured learning environment,” Christian said. “I don’t want to confuse it with time on the job.”

But the USA Funds grant won’t just support veterans. Christian said there are currently 145,000 Montana residents ages 25 to 60 who have college experience, but no degree.

“We’d like to convert those into college graduates,” he said.

Reach Tribune Staff Writer Kristen Cates at 791-1463. Follow her on Twitter @GFTrib_KCates