Bill > HB28

This bill clarifies and updates several key provisions related to public charter schools in Montana, focusing on approval timelines, opening procedures, and funding mechanisms. Specifically, the bill requires the Board of Public Education to inform the Office of Public Instruction and county superintendents about charter school status, changes timeline requirements to specify business days, and modifies funding eligibility rules. The bill exempts charter schools approved by the Board of Public Education from standard school opening requirements and adjusts how schools receive funding in their first year of operation. For public charter schools and districts, the bill establishes that in the first operating year, they will not be eligible for per-ANB (Average Number Belonging) entitlements and will instead base funding on planned enrollment, with provisions for clawing back overpayments if actual enrollment does not meet initial projections. The bill also clarifies the board's responsibilities in soliciting, evaluating, and monitoring charter school proposals, including setting performance expectations, conducting annual reviews, and determining charter renewals. These changes aim to provide more clarity, accountability, and flexibility in the establishment and funding of public charter schools while maintaining rigorous standards for their operation and performance.

Budget and Finance, Education

https://bills.legmt.gov/#/laws/bill/20251/LC0290