Congressman Denny Rehberg

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, is sponsoring legislation to assist Montana’s schools and veterans take advantage of a program that helps train vets to become teachers. The Post 9/11 Troops to Teachers Enhancement Act (H.R. 3934) expands the Troops to Teachers program to include veterans who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, while also increasing the number of eligible schools.

“Montana’s schools and communities greatly benefit from the experience of our troops,” said Rehberg, a member of the House Appropriations Committee. “This bill not only opens up more opportunities to bring great educators into the classroom, it also helps fill positions in rural and low-income areas that often see teacher shortages.”

The Troops to Teachers program provides veterans with a $5,000 stipend to help cover the cost of obtaining teaching certification when they agree to teach in an eligible school for three years.  Since being authorized in 1993, nearly 12,000 veterans have participated in the program.  If approved, the measure could increase the number of eligible school districts in Montana from 190 to 382.