Montana State center devoted to rural education celebrates 10 years

BOZEMAN - Montana State University's Center for Research on Rural Education, created to respond to the pressing concerns of small, rural and remote schools across Montana and beyond, is marking its 10th anniversary this year. Over the decade, the center has been engaged with projects that have received more than $21 million in grant funding.

Through carefully designed service and research, the Center for Research on Rural Education has focused its work in three priority areas: the preparation and support of rural teachers; the preparation and support of rural counselors; and the delivery of mental health literacy for rural youth. It is housed in the College of Education, Health and Human Development's Department of Education.

"Since our launch 10 years ago, we've prioritized listening first - ensuring that our research and service efforts respond directly to the needs, values and aspirations of rural schools," said Jayne Downey, the center's director and an education professor. "Whether it's introducing preservice teachers to teaching in a rural community, co-creating professional learning with teachers, or conducting research that informs policy and practice, our work reflects our deep commitments to respect, place and collaboration. We're especially proud of the trust we've built with rural partners across Montana and the lasting impact of initiatives that are both academically rigorous and locally meaningful. And we're honored that we have been able to connect with every county in Montana through our work in the center."

In 2015, faculty in the Center for Research on Rural Education were awarded $156,764 to support rural-focused research and service. A decade later, the center is associated with active grants totaling $13 million, which fund a diverse range of projects.

"Jayne Downey taught me that no matter where I am in Montana, I am always in the middle of somewhere," said Alison Harmon, vice president for research and economic development. "What Dr. Downey and her team have accomplished in 10 years is astounding and encouraging. They are addressing the needs of rural schools for both teachers and counselors, building a statewide network of mentoring and support, and making sure that new teachers do not feel alone."

Below are details of some of the center's most significant efforts:

Addressing Rural Recruitment and Retention in Montana/Montana Rural Teacher Project

In 2019, MSU's education department and its partners received funding totaling $6.2 million for "Addressing Rural Recruitment and Retention in Montana." The five-year program was delivered mostly online and worked to recruit, prepare and mentor dozens of high-quality educators in rural areas of Montana and help address a shortage of teachers.

The program supported teacher candidates as they completed the Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) degree and then transitioned into rural classrooms. Participants were placed in an eligible rural school for their teaching residency during the program, where they worked alongside a qualified teacher throughout an academic year. Once licensed, participants secured teaching positions in eligible schools and were given mentoring and support during their first two years of teaching. Graduates also received ongoing opportunities for virtual and in-person professional learning provided by statewide organizations. Forty-seven graduates in three different groups were funded through the program.

These funds included a $3.1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education and more than $3.1 million in matching funds and services from nearly a dozen Montana partner organizations.

ASPIRE

In 2021, MSU received a $1.5 million grant from Margaret A. Cargill Philanthropies for a two-year project called "Advancing Support, Preparation and Innovation in Rural Education," or ASPIRE. The project aimed to reduce the critical shortage of teachers in rural Montana, strengthen the teaching profession across the state and ensure that Montana's students are taught by well-prepared, well-supported teachers.

In 2024, MSU received $2.5 million for the second iteration of the ASPIRE program, which runs through 2026.

ASPIRE includes three strategic initiatives: The Rural Teacher Pathways Program, the MentorMT Project and the Rural Teaching Resource Hub:

• The Rural Teacher Pathways Program is a carefully designed curricular sequence of rural school and community clinical experiences for undergraduate preservice teachers. It also includes a Bridge to College program for high school students.
• Mentor MT Project provides expert, one-on-one mentoring for new and underprepared teachers in rural classrooms. The program is designed especially for rural teachers who are in their first or second year; on a provisional license; under emergency authorization with limited preparation; teaching outside their licensed grade level or subject area; or teaching on an international visa.
• Rural Teaching Resource Hub is designed specifically for Montana's rural teachers. It offers information about teacher licensure in Montana and instructional materials and professional development support for rural teachers across the state.

Rural Mental Health Preparation/Practice Pathway Partnership

The Rural Mental Health Preparation/Practice Pathway Partnership is a collaboration between MSU, the University of Montana and the Montana Office of Public Instruction to prepare counselors to provide services for Montana's rural schools and communities. In 2019, the partners received a five-year, $2.3 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education for the program. The second iteration of the partnership received a $4.1 million, five-year award in 2023.

The partnership aims to increase the preparation, employment, retention and effectiveness of mental health service professionals for rural, remote and tribal communities in Montana. The majority of the grant funds support graduate students in their preparation and their post-graduation placement, including their lodging, travel and living expenses during a 10-month rural internship. MSU and UM provide financial support for approximately 10 students each year who are enrolled in their universities' graduate counseling programs.

Youth Aware of Mental Health

Youth Aware of Mental Health, or YAM, is an interactive school-based program where students learn about mental health and how to seek help for themselves or their friends. The five-hour program is spread over a minimum of three weeks and is led by trained instructors. It teaches both mental health awareness and risk factors associated with suicide, as well as skills for dealing with adverse life events. The MSU Center for Research on Rural Education partners with MSU Extension and other dedicated rural community members to deliver YAM in communities across Montana.

The program launched in 2016 with a $303,000 grant from the Montana Research and Economic Development Initiative. It later received a $157,000 grant from the state of Montana to implement the YAM program within the Great Falls School District. In 2021 and 2023, the CRRE received two grants totaling $596,966 from the USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture to enable YAM to expand to more Montana communities, particularly rural and tribal communities. To date, the center has secured more than $1.5 million from local, state and federal funders, including NAMI Montana, Bozeman Health, Helena Public Schools, Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services, Steele-Reese Foundation and the USDA.

Educator Development with Indigenous Nations of Montana Amskaapi Piikani Pilot

The Educator Development with Indigenous Nations of Montana Amskaapi Piikani Pilot, launched in 2025, aims to prepare middle school and high school educators to serve Indigenous communities across Montana. The program received a three-year, $500,000 grant from Margaret A. Cargill Philanthropies to support the work.

In this collaborative 2+2 program, students will complete their first two years of coursework at Blackfeet Community College and then transfer to MSU for two years. The MSU coursework will be completed in Browning rather than on the university campus in Bozeman. Students in the program will earn a bachelor's degree from MSU in secondary education with a general science or social studies focus. Project partners include community members, as well as leaders and teacher educators from MSU, Blackfeet Community College, the Amskaapi Piikani - or Blackfeet - Nation, and school districts serving the Blackfeet Nation.