Montana is building the foundation for high school transformation, with a focus on college readiness and workforce development, including through the implementation of high-quality work-based learning experiences. The Montana Career Pathways program helps students explore in-demand careers by connecting them to real-world professional opportunities and postsecondary options through dual enrollment and work-based learning.

The state also supports career and technical education (CTE), providing high schools with resources to offer hands-on training and industry-recognized credentials in fields critical to Montana's economy, such as agriculture, health sciences, and trades. Efforts are also underway to build a statewide credential and skills registry, making educational and professional credentials transparent and accessible to students, workers, and employers. This registry can provide the necessary infrastructure for the development of a new badging and transcript system.

To further advance the objectives of these programs, state leaders in Montana could work with communities to develop a Portrait of a Graduate that reflects the broad set of competencies all high school graduates should have by the time they leave high school, and explore opportunities to launch a statewide initiative with dedicated resources to incentivize community-led high school redesign. State leaders could also enable students to earn credit through demonstrations of proficiency, not seat time.