Billings Schools Receive Fresh Federal Funds as New Year Pay Scales Take Effect

Montana received $6 million in federal afterschool program funds in July 2026 after a temporary pause, with the money earmarked for programs in Billings and across the state.

The release follows earlier delays that had held up similar allocations. Districts in Billings now have access to the restored dollars to run afterschool activities that serve students during the coming months.

Pay adjustments for the new school year

Billings teachers are set to receive higher wages for the new school year, with starting salaries for building staff at $50,000 and up to $58,000 for those with master's degrees. The pay structure applies to staff at Billings Public Schools sites as the district prepares classrooms for fall.

A 2024 levy measure for Billings Public Schools failed at the ballot, while levies passed in Bozeman, Missoula, and Butte. The outcome left Billings without the additional local revenue that neighboring districts secured.

Support for English learners and basic needs

Billings Public Schools opened a new charter academy in fall 2024 specifically for English-learning students, addressing a surge from 25 learners in 2015 to 348 by fall 2023. The academy operates as one response to the documented increase in enrollment.

Nearly 10% of Billings Public School students face food insecurity, with the Billings Education Foundation awarding $150,000 in classroom grants last year to support student needs. Those grants supplemented district efforts to address hunger and related barriers to attendance.

Billings Adult Education offers free computer and digital literacy classes for adults ages 16 and older that cover Microsoft Office, keyboarding, and online testing applications. The Billings Public Library provides free online learning tools including Mango Languages for 34 languages and Universal Class to cardholders. Students at Ben Steele Middle School receive digital literacy instruction in grades 6 through 8 under instructor Josh Haber, and the library lends free mobile Wi-Fi hotspots to patrons without home internet.

Through the statewide MontanaLibrary2Go consortium, Billings library patrons can access over 50,000 downloadable e-books and audiobooks for free sharing. The restored federal afterschool funds will allow continuation of similar enrichment options for K-12 students in the weeks ahead.