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 charter application process and requires the Board of Public Education to prioritize proposals that emphasize personalized and proficiency-based learning while limiting associated costs. Additionally, it removes the Board's authority to waive statutory requirements in charter contracts and allows public charter school districts to access various forms of public funding and donations under the Innovative Education Tax Credit Program.

Key amendments in the bill include establishing financial obligations for a child's resident school district when serving children with disabilities and requiring the Board of Public Education to approve or deny charter proposals within 90 days. The bill also emphasizes the importance of community support and input in the proposal process and limits the estimated annual additional state costs for public charter schools based on information from the Office of Public Instruction. Overall, the bill aims to enhance the operational framework and accountability of public charter schools in Montana, with an effective date set for 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