State bills use loan repayment, retired teacher hiring to draw educators to rural districts

Montana lawmakers are considering multiple pieces of legislation that would help rural districts attract and retain teachers, according to an Associated Press report. Under one House-approved proposal, rural schools that have fewer than 120 students would be eligible to hire retired educators — who have at least 27 years under their belts — who would still get to collect their full retirement pay for up to three years.Another bill, which has passed in the state Senate, would let rural schools with "critical teacher shortages" offer student loan repayment programs to new teachers. Teachers would be able to get up to $3,000 after their first year on the job, $4,000 after their second and $5,000 after their third, the AP notes.Other education-related proposals in the state legislature deal with school safety and college and career readiness. One bill, which was approved in the House, would allow rural districts to hire school marshals and create training standards, while another would allow schools to chip in for students' dual enrollment courses, college exam fees or costs surrounding work-based learning.