Editing Montana (section)

==Education==
{{see also|TRAILS|l1=Treasure State Academic Information & Library Services|List of high schools in Montana|List of school districts in Montana}}
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===Colleges and universities===

The [[Montana University System]] consists of:
{{div col}}
* [[Dawson Community College]]
* [[Flathead Valley Community College]]
* [[Miles Community College]]
* [[Montana State University|Montana State University Bozeman]]
** [[Gallatin College Montana State University]] Bozeman
** [[Montana State University Billings]]
** [[City College at Montana State University Billings]] Billings
** [[Montana State University-Northern]] Havre
** [[Great Falls College Montana State University]] Great Falls
* [[University of Montana|University of Montana Missoula]]
** [[Missoula College University of Montana]] Missoula
** [[Montana Tech of the University of Montana]] Butte
** [[Highlands College of Montana Tech]] Butte
** [[University of Montana Western]] Dillon
** [[Helena College University of Montana]] Helena
** [[Bitterroot College University of Montana]] Hamilton
{{div col end}}

Tribal colleges in Montana include:
{{div col}}
* [[Aaniiih Nakoda College]] Harlem
* [[Blackfeet Community College]] Browning
* [[Chief Dull Knife College]] Lame Deer
* [[Fort Peck Community College]] Poplar
* [[Little Big Horn College]] Crow Agency
* [[Salish Kootenai College]] Pablo
* [[Stone Child College]] Box Elder
{{div col end}}

Four private colleges are in Montana:

{{div col}}
* [[Carroll College (Montana)|Carroll College]]
* [[Rocky Mountain College]]
* [[University of Great Falls|University of Providence]]
* [[Apollos University]]
{{div col end}}

===Schools===
The Montana Territory was formed on April 26, 1864, when the U.S. passed the [[Organic Act]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://courts.mt.gov/library/montana_laws.mcpx#constitutional |author=Judicial Branch Montana |title=Montana Laws |access-date=March 7, 2014 |archive-date=February 28, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140228151159/http://courts.mt.gov/library/montana_laws.mcpx#constitutional |url-status=dead }}</ref> Schools started forming in the area before it was officially a territory as families started settling into the area. The first schools were subscription schools that typically met in the teacher's home. The first formal school on record was at Fort Owen in Bitterroot valley in 1862. The students were Indian children and the children of Fort Owen employees. The first school term started in early winter and lasted only until February 28. Classes were taught by Mr. Robinson.<ref>{{cite web |title=Education |url=http://montanahistorywiki.pbworks.com/w/page/21639613/Education#PublicSchools |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140307081624/http://montanahistorywiki.pbworks.com/w/page/21639613/Education#PublicSchools |archive-date=March 7, 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Another early subscription school was started by Thomas Dimsdale in Virginia City in 1863. In this school students were charged $1.75 per week.<ref name="Sievert">{{cite book |last=Sievert |first=Ken and Ellen |title=Virginia City and Alder Gulch |date=August 26, 1993 |publisher=Farcounty Press}}</ref> The Montana Territorial Legislative Assembly had its inaugural meeting in 1864.<ref>{{cite web |last=Malcomson |first=Jeff |title=Legislative History Guide |url=http://montanahistorywiki.pbworks.com/w/page/21639685/Legislative%20History%20Guide |access-date=February 22, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150214041210/http://montanahistorywiki.pbworks.com/w/page/21639685/Legislative%20History%20Guide |archive-date=February 14, 2015}}</ref> The first legislature authorized counties to levy taxes for schools, which set the foundations for public schooling.<ref>{{cite web |title=Montana Legislature |url=http://www.leg.mt.gov/css/default.asp |access-date=February 22, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150222190148/http://leg.mt.gov/css/default.asp |archive-date=February 22, 2015 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Madison County was the first to take advantage of the newly authorized taxes and it formed the first public school in Virginia City in 1886.<ref name="Sievert" /> The first school year was scheduled to begin in January 1866, but severe weather postponed its opening until March. The first school year ran through the summer and did not end until August 17. One of the first teachers at the school was Sarah Raymond. She was a 25-year-old woman who had traveled to Virginia City via wagon train in 1865. To become a certified teacher, Raymond took a test in her home and paid a $6 fee in gold dust to obtain a teaching certificate. With the help of an assistant teacher, Mrs. Farley,<ref name="Briggeman">{{cite web |last=Briggeman |first=Kim |title=MONTANA HISTORY ALMANAC: First school opens doors in Virginia City |date=March 3, 2012 |url=http://missoulian.com/lifestyles/territory/montana-history-almanac-first-school-opens-doors-in-virginia-city/article_efe08740-6498-11e1-ac7d-0019bb2963f4.html |access-date=February 22, 2015 |archive-date=May 16, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160516030510/http://missoulian.com/lifestyles/territory/montana-history-almanac-first-school-opens-doors-in-virginia-city/article_efe08740-6498-11e1-ac7d-0019bb2963f4.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Raymond was responsible for teaching 50 to 60 students each day out of the 81 students enrolled at the school. Sarah Raymond was paid $125 per month, and Mrs. Farley was paid $75 per month. No textbooks were used in the school. In their place was an assortment of books brought by various emigrants.{{sfn|O'Brien|2003|pp=14–16}} Raymond quit teaching the following year, but she later became the Madison County superintendent of schools.<ref name="Briggeman" />