Article Summary –
The Montana Legislature has allocated about $1.2 million in state funding for charter schools, with $817,000 earmarked for public charter schools and $425,000 for community choice schools. However, lawmakers underestimated the appeal of charter schools, leading to more applications than anticipated, which may strain the budget. The funding is tied to two bills, HB 549 and HB 562; HB 562 has been temporarily blocked by a state district court judge until a legal dispute is resolved.
Charter Schools in Montana: State Funding Analysis
Montana’s charter schools have been gaining attention lately. With one of the two charter school laws currently under legal scrutiny in district court, and the other leading to the creation of 19 public charters across multiple communities, it’s evident why they’re a topic of interest. A question that hasn’t been addressed is, how much state funding has been allocated to these newly established educational institutions by the Montana Legislature?
Approximately $1.2 million is the answer. The funding directive came from both House Bill 549 and House Bill 562, setting up public charter schools and a separate system of “community choice” schools respectively. These new charters are set to receive state funds through K-12 BASE Aid, an identical formula to public school funding. As part of Montana’s two-year budget established last spring, about $817,000 was set aside as extra BASE aid for public charter schools, and $425,000 for community choice schools.
However, the scenario has become more complex. The appropriation for HB 562 community choice schools is currently irrelevant after a state district court judge in Helena banned state officials from approving any applications under that law pending a legal challenge.
Concerning HB 549, lawmakers underestimated its immediate popularity among public school districts statewide. The fiscal projections of the Legislature anticipated five charters to be initiated during the budget cycle. In contrast, the Montana Board of Public Education had to handle 26 public charter applications in the first round, approving 19 proposed schools to commence operations within the next year and a half. The Board and the Office of Public Instruction are still finalizing financial details, but the new charters will start receiving a portion of their K-12 BASE Aid this fall.
According to Rep. David Bedey, R-Hamilton, “the program was more popular than we had anticipated.” Bedey, chair of the Legislature’s Education Interim Budget Committee, noted that additional funding for public charters, if required, could be allocated through a supplemental appropriation at the start of the 2025 Legislature.
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