The bill seeks to revise the framework governing public charter schools in Montana by defining "public charter school district" and clarifying its authority. It requires the Office of Public Instruction to perform a fiscal analysis during the application process for new charter schools and mandates the Board of Public Education to limit costs associated with these schools while prioritizing proposals that emphasize personalized and proficiency-based learning. Notably, the bill removes the Board's ability 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.

Key amendments include establishing financial responsibilities for a child's resident school district regarding students with disabilities and requiring the Board of Public Education to make decisions on charter proposals within 90 days. The bill also stresses the importance of community support in the proposal process and limits the estimated annual additional state costs for public charter schools to amounts specified by the legislature. Furthermore, it clarifies the funding structure, ensuring equitable per-pupil operational funding and outlining the prohibition of tuition and fees, with exceptions for certain cases. The effective date for the implementation of this act is set for July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 20-6-803, 20-6-805, 20-6-807, 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: 20-6-803, 20-6-805, 20-6-811, 20-6-812