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SCHOOL CHOICE State Summary Montana

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SCHOOL CHOICE State Summary Montana SCHOOL CHOICE State Summary Montana OVERVIEW Charters: Montana is one of eight states that have not passed charter school legislation. 1 Vouchers or Other State Assistance for Private School Choice: Montana does not currently have a voucher or private school choice program. Tax credit legislation was considered but not passed in 2009. In 2013, a bill to establish state income tax credits for donations to scholarship granting organizations passed but was vetoed by the governor. State Laws on Other Forms of School Choice: Montana has a mandatory open enrollment program for transfers between districts (interdistrict open enrollment). Districts may opt out if they do not have space available. 1 The states that have not passed charter school legislation are Alabama, Kentucky, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont, and West Virginia. School Choice | Montana 1 State Summary Montana CHARTER SCHOOLS History • Montana has not passed charter school legislation. PerCent OF StudentS enrOLLed in ChArterS • In 2011, the Montana House passed a charter bill but it 2011-2012 died in the Senate Education Committee. • The 2013 Montana legislative session included two bills to create charter schools, but both were unsuccessful. 0.0% < 4.2% Montana u.S. Average • Both Governor Steve Bullock and State Superintendent of Public Instruction Denise Juneau have expressed public opposition to establishing charter schools. Details • In the 2013 session, House Bill 315 failed its third reading . • The bill would have established a public charter school commission. • Charters could be authorized by the public charter school commission, school district trustees registered with the commission, and approved colleges and universities. • It placed no caps on charter school growth. • School accreditation was not required. • Six Republican legislators switched their votes to no for the third reading, citing concerns about how well charters would succeed in a state with many small school districts in rural areas. • In 2013, Senate Bill 374 successfully passed the Senate after being heavily amended to limit charter schools’ independence from state regulations. The bill died in House committee. • The bill placed no caps on charter school growth • Local school boards would authorize charter schools. • Charter schools would have to meet accreditation standards and negotiate contracts with labor groups. They would also have to meet the same accountability and assessment requirements as other public schools . • Many Senate Republicans had opposed the final amended legislation, claiming that the bill was overly restrictive and stripped of its original intent. The bill died in the House Standing Committee prior to the end of the legislative session. FINDINGS ON CHARTERS IN MONTANA In 2013, the Friedman Foundation (which works to advance school choice) surveyed registered voters in Montana and found that nine percent of Montana voters would prefer to send their children to a charter school, compared with 50 percent who prefer traditional public schools and 28 percent who prefer private schools. As a whole, survey participants were favorable toward charter schools – 54 percent expressed support for charter schools while 21 percent opposed charters. 2 School Choice | Montana VOUCHERS OR OTHER STATE ASSISTANCE FOR PRIVATE SCHOOL CHOICE History • Montana does not currently have a voucher or private school choice program . Details • Tax credit legislation was considered but not passed in 2009. • In 2013, the Montana legislature passed Senate Bill 81 to establish a scholarship tax credit program, but the bill was ultimately vetoed by Governor Steve Bullock. • The program would have provided income tax credits to individuals and corporations for donations to organizations that offer private school scholarships. • The total amount of credits would be limited each year, and the limit would be raised by 30 percent annually. FINDINGS ON VOUCHERS IN MONTANAA In 2013, the Friedman Foundation surveyed registered voters in Montana and found that 52 percent supported a state voucher program while 39 percent said they opposed vouchers. A majority of voters were also open to opportunity scholarship programs, which offer tax credits to individuals and corporations that make donations to scholarship granting organizations. Approximately 59 percent of Montana voters supported this model, while 28 percent opposed it. On the other hand, a report by the Montana Budget and Policy Center , a non-partisan non-profit organization, suggests that tax credit scholarships are a less viable option for a rural state like Montana. Potential nonpublic choices are limited – 34 of the state’s 56 counties do not have private schools. In addition, most of Montana’s private schools are concentrated within seven counties. School Choice | Montana 3 State Summary Montana STATE POLICIES ON OTHER FORMS OF SCHOOL CHOICE Open Enrollment • Montana has a mandatory interdistrict enrollment program for student transfers between school districts. • Students may participate in the program if: • They reside closer to the school they wish to attend and more than three miles from the school they would normally enroll in and the district does not provide transportation; or • It is impractical to attend the resident school because of geographic reasons (i.e., more than one hour of travel for elementary school, significant dirt road travel). • Districts are able to opt out of the program if they do not have available space. • Transportation costs are negotiated as part of a transfer agreement between districts. Virtual Schools • Montana does not have virtual public charter schools or statewide, full-time online schools. • The Montana Digital Academy (MTDA) began in 2010 and is hosted by the University of Montana College of Education and Human Sciences. The MTDA offers online courses to students across the state. These courses are free of charge to students and public school districts. In 2012-13, the academy had an estimated 4,551 course enrollments . • The MTDA has been funded through state appropriations. In 2013, the state legislature appropriated $3.79 million for MTDA to be equally divided between the 2013-14 and 2014-15 academic years. • Select school districts also offer digital learning opportunities to their students. 4 School Choice | Montana RESOURCES FOR FURTHER INFORMATION Keeping Pace with K-12 Online & Blended Learning: Montana Montana K-12 & School Choice Survey Public Charter Schools in Montana: A Comparison of 2013 Legislation tax Credit Scholarships: A threat to Montana-Based education Solutions School Choice | Montana 5.
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