The bill revises existing laws concerning public charter schools in Montana, focusing on approval timelines, operational procedures, and initial funding. It requires the Board of Public Education to notify the Office of Public Instruction and the relevant county superintendent about the status of public charter schools. The bill specifies that timeline requirements will be measured in business days and exempts approved public charter schools from certain opening requirements. It also establishes that public charter schools governed by local school boards will not qualify for per-ANB entitlement in their first operational year, while public charter school districts may be eligible based on planned enrollment, with provisions for clawback if actual enrollment falls short.

Additionally, the bill enhances the proposal process for public charter schools by mandating that the Board of Public Education approve or deny proposals within 90 business days and outlines essential elements for charter proposals, such as performance frameworks and annual targets. It requires the charter contract to be executed within 45 business days of approval and includes provisions for monitoring performance and compliance, as well as guidelines for charter renewal based on performance metrics. The bill also introduces specific funding provisions, stating that public charter schools and districts operated by local school boards will not be eligible for per-ANB entitlement in their first year, while public charter school districts can receive funding based on planned enrollment, with an immediate effective date and retroactive applicability for schools starting operations on or after July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 20-6-804, 20-6-805, 20-6-806, 20-6-809, 20-6-812
HB0028_1(1): 20-6-804, 20-6-805, 20-6-806, 20-6-809, 20-6-812
HB0028_1(2): 20-6-804, 20-6-805, 20-6-806, 20-6-809, 20-6-812
HB0028_1(3): 20-6-804, 20-6-805, 20-6-806, 20-6-809, 20-6-812
HB0028_1(4): 20-6-804, 20-6-805, 20-6-806, 20-6-809, 20-6-812
HB0028_1(5): 20-6-804, 20-6-805, 20-6-806, 20-6-809, 20-6-812
HB0028_1(6): 20-6-804, 20-6-805, 20-6-806, 20-6-809, 20-6-812
HB0028_1(7): 20-6-804, 20-6-805, 20-6-806, 20-6-809, 20-6-812
HB0028_1: 20-6-804, 20-6-805, 20-6-806, 20-6-809, 20-6-812
HB0028_2(1): 20-6-804, 20-6-805, 20-6-806, 20-6-809, 20-6-812
HB0028_2(10): 20-6-804, 20-6-805, 20-6-806, 20-6-809, 20-6-812
HB0028_2(11): 20-6-804, 20-6-805, 20-6-806, 20-6-809, 20-6-812
HB0028_2(2): 20-6-804, 20-6-805, 20-6-806, 20-6-809, 20-6-812
HB0028_2(3): 20-6-804, 20-6-805, 20-6-806, 20-6-809, 20-6-812
HB0028_2(4): 20-6-804, 20-6-805, 20-6-806, 20-6-809, 20-6-812
HB0028_2(5): 20-6-804, 20-6-805, 20-6-806, 20-6-809, 20-6-812
HB0028_2(6): 20-6-804, 20-6-805, 20-6-806, 20-6-809, 20-6-812
HB0028_2(7): 20-6-804, 20-6-805, 20-6-806, 20-6-809, 20-6-812
HB0028_2(8): 20-6-804, 20-6-805, 20-6-806, 20-6-809, 20-6-812
HB0028_2(9): 20-6-804, 20-6-805, 20-6-806, 20-6-809, 20-6-812
HB0028_2: 20-6-804, 20-6-805, 20-6-806, 20-6-809, 20-6-812
HB0028_3: 20-6-804, 20-6-805, 20-6-806, 20-6-809, 20-6-812
HB0028_X(1): 20-6-804, 20-6-805, 20-6-806, 20-6-809, 20-6-812
HB0028_X(10): 20-6-804, 20-6-805, 20-6-806, 20-6-809, 20-6-812
HB0028_X(11): 20-6-804, 20-6-805, 20-6-806, 20-6-809, 20-6-812
HB0028_X(12): 20-6-804, 20-6-805, 20-6-806, 20-6-809, 20-6-812
HB0028_X(13): 20-6-804, 20-6-805, 20-6-806, 20-6-809, 20-6-812
HB0028_X(14): 20-6-804, 20-6-805, 20-6-806, 20-6-809, 20-6-812
HB0028_X(15): 20-6-804, 20-6-805, 20-6-806, 20-6-809, 20-6-812
HB0028_X(16): 20-6-804, 20-6-805, 20-6-806, 20-6-809, 20-6-812
HB0028_X(17): 20-6-804, 20-6-805, 20-6-806, 20-6-809, 20-6-812
HB0028_X(2): 20-6-804, 20-6-805, 20-6-806, 20-6-809, 20-6-812
HB0028_X(3): 20-6-804, 20-6-805, 20-6-806, 20-6-809, 20-6-812
HB0028_X(4): 20-6-804, 20-6-805, 20-6-806, 20-6-809, 20-6-812
HB0028_X(5): 20-6-804, 20-6-805, 20-6-806, 20-6-809, 20-6-812
HB0028_X(6): 20-6-804, 20-6-805, 20-6-806, 20-6-809, 20-6-812
HB0028_X(7): 20-6-804, 20-6-805, 20-6-806, 20-6-809, 20-6-812
HB0028_X(8): 20-6-804, 20-6-805, 20-6-806, 20-6-809, 20-6-812
HB0028_X(9): 20-6-804, 20-6-805, 20-6-806, 20-6-809, 20-6-812
HB0028_X: 20-6-804, 20-6-805, 20-6-806, 20-6-809, 20-6-812