Article Summary –
The Montana Quality Education Coalition (MQEC) has filed a lawsuit against state Superintendent Elsie Arntzen and the Office of Public Instruction over the implementation of a new public charter school law. MQEC accuses Arntzen and the Office of Public Instruction of delaying the opening and operation of 19 public charter schools that were approved by the Board of Public Education in February, potentially causing “irreparable harm” to public school boards trying to open them in the coming fall. MQEC seeks the court to prevent the Office of Public Instruction from imposing additional school opening requirements on the public charter schools and to ensure the Board of Public Education’s authority under the charter school law “is not further abridged.”
Montana Quality Education Coalition Files Lawsuit Over Public Charter School Law Implementation
The Montana Quality Education Coalition (MQEC) lodged a lawsuit on Thursday against state Superintendent Elsie Arntzen and the Office of Public Instruction (OPI). The case regards a dispute about the application of a new public charter school law.
The petition, submitted in Lewis and Clark County District Court, accuses Arntzen and OPI of obstructing the inauguration and functioning of 19 public charter schools sanctioned by the Board of Public Education in February. The MQEC points to delays in recognizing these schools, causing significant harm to public school boards aiming to commence these schools in the fall.
Elizabeth Kaleva, an attorney from Kaleva Law Office representing MQEC, identified the litigation as a regrettable but necessary measure for clarity on the process of initiating these new charter schools.
Responding to the lawsuit, Arntzen referred to it as a ploy against her “constitutional conservative” ideology, promising her office’s continued compliance with the law and commitment to prioritizing Montana students and parents.
The complaint from MQEC is the latest in an ongoing clash between state education officials regarding House Bill 549. The law bestows public school boards the power to establish charter schools under their own jurisdiction.
MQEC’s legal complaint reiterates much of the recent exchanges and further elaborates on developments causing uncertainty and exasperation for districts preparing to launch their charters for the 2024-25 school year.
MQEC implores the court to prevent OPI from imposing additional school opening requirements on the public charter schools. It also requests the court to command OPI to carry out several administrative tasks critical to the opening of those schools, including the disbursement of state funding.
Missoula County Public Schools Superintendent Micah Hill expressed that OPI’s stance on the matter “adds a whole new layer” to the process than anticipated. He mentioned that school districts are significantly feeling the impact of this impasse in terms of developing their programming and advancing their plans.
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