Article Summary –
Elsie Arntzen, Montana’s State Superintendent, has come under bipartisan criticism for allegedly failing to properly implement new education laws. The criticisms center around state funding for early childhood literacy programs, the timeline for reporting spending on Indigenous culture instruction, the process for opening public charter schools, and student privacy considerations in updating statewide education data systems. Arntzen has defended her office’s stance, arguing that the Office of Public Instruction is interpreting the laws based on their precise wording, and has called the criticism political persecution.
Superintendent Elsie Arntzen Counters Criticism Over Education Law Implementation
State Superintendent Elsie Arntzen hosted a virtual meeting on Wednesday to address bipartisan criticism regarding the implementation of several major education laws passed in the 2023 session by the Office of Public Instruction (OPI) under her leadership.
Rob Stutz, Arntzen’s deputy and chief legal counsel, featured in the virtual event attended by 13 individuals including OPI staff. Stutz reviewed statutory language explaining the agency’s approach to the new laws. The disagreement centres around details of four new laws, including state funding timing for early childhood literacy programs and student privacy in the upgrade of OPI’s education data systems. The latter has caused increased tension between Arntzen’s office and Montana’s K-12 education system in recent times.
Stutz defended OPI’s interpretation and implementation of these laws, stating that their approach is based on an accurate reading of the legislative language.
The virtual meeting followed a contentious hearing last week where lawmakers expressed concerns about OPI’s alleged failure to implement new laws properly, causing delays and confusion in local schools.
Following the committee’s formal expression of disappointment, Arntzen responded with a public statement dismissing the move as “political persecution”.
Arntzen reiterated her position in a white paper after defending the rigorous school opening process for public charter schools. The process, she argues, makes the schools eligible for state funding, despite lawmakers’ original intentions.
A meeting is scheduled for March 25 by the Board of Public Education to consider writing to Arntzen to exempt new public charter schools from additional approvals.
At Wednesday’s meeting, Stutz reiterated arguments on three of the four disputed bills and another bill related to OPI’s database modernization project. He did not address issues raised about a 2023 law revising per-pupil funding for students transferring to other districts.
Stutz clarified to Sen. Becky Beard, R-Elliston that House Bill 338 applied new instructional reporting requirements but such reporting was already mandated as part of Montana’s annual school accreditation process.
Arntzen concluded by hoping that the event would “help heal the conversation”, while Stutz hinted at no inclination to reconsider their interpretations.
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