House Bill 251 seeks to revise and clarify the laws governing public charter schools in Montana by introducing a definition for "public charter school district" and outlining its authority. The bill mandates the Office of Public Instruction to conduct a fiscal analysis during the public charter school application process and requires the Board of Public Education to prioritize proposals that emphasize personalized and proficiency-based learning. It also removes the Board's authority to waive statutory requirements in charter contracts and allows public charter school districts to access additional public funding and donations through the Innovative Education Tax Credit Program.

Furthermore, the bill establishes financial obligations for a child's resident school district when serving children with disabilities and ensures equitable operational funding for public charter schools on a per-pupil basis compared to local school districts. It specifies that public charter schools governed by local school boards will be treated as separate budget units and outlines the conditions for receiving basic entitlements. Importantly, the bill prohibits public charter school districts from charging tuition and fees, reinforcing the commitment to fiscal responsibility and community support in the approval of charter proposals. The changes are set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 20-6-803, 20-6-805, 20-6-811, 20-6-812
HB0251_1(1): 20-6-803, 20-6-805, 20-6-811, 20-6-812
HB0251_1(2): 20-6-803, 20-6-805, 20-6-811, 20-6-812
HB0251_1(3): 20-6-803, 20-6-805, 20-6-811, 20-6-812
HB0251_1(4): 20-6-803, 20-6-805, 20-6-811, 20-6-812
HB0251_1(5): 20-6-803, 20-6-805, 20-6-811, 20-6-812
HB0251_1(6): 20-6-803, 20-6-805, 20-6-811, 20-6-812
HB0251_1: 20-6-803, 20-6-805, 20-6-811, 20-6-812
HB0251_X(1): 20-6-803, 20-6-805, 20-6-811, 20-6-812
HB0251_X(2): 20-6-803, 20-6-805, 20-6-811, 20-6-812
HB0251_X: 20-6-803, 20-6-805, 20-6-811, 20-6-812