Pass Or Fail? Where Do We Rank For Early Education In Montana?

Montana has its fair share of educated folk. We recently learned that in the town of Bozeman, almost 60 percent of the population has at least a 4-year degree. While that's certainly a high percentage compared to the rest of the state, overall, almost a third of the state's population has a 4-year degree, which isn't too shabby.

Of course, a degree doesn't always equal success, and there are certainly many Montanans that are doing very well for themselves without one, but the school of thought remains that having an education is a good thing.

Many experts will tell you that the fast track to a quality education starts in childhood. Things like Pre-K have become a big deal, and for many, will give children a head start when it comes to their path of learning and knowledge.

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So where does Montana rank compared to other states when it comes to early education? Do we pass or do we fail?

According to new data from our friends over at WalletHub, it looks like Montana is closer to failing than passing. In fact, only a handful of states score lower than Montana when it comes to early education programs.

Idaho, North Dakota, New Hampshire, Missouri, Massachusetts, Minnesota, and Indiana all score lower in early education than Montana, which is interesting especially when you consider that Massachusetts usually leads the nation for states with the best education.

So what were the factors used in determining these rankings? WalletHub used the following:

• Access
• Quality
• Resources and Economic Support

It looks like the thing that really hurt Montana was the Resources and Economic Support, as we ranked 48th, followed by Access where we ranked 39th in the nation.

What do you think? Should early education be something that the state government should focus on?  Should resources and more programs be funded by the state so that more Montanans have a chance to send their kids to these early education programs?

Let us know by sending a message on our station app.