House Bill No. [insert bill number] seeks to revise Montana's school funding laws by adjusting the funding structure for 6th graders in districts with accredited middle school or junior high programs. The bill proposes that these 6th graders be funded at a rate that is the midpoint between the elementary and high school Average Number Belonging (ANB) rates, rather than at the lower elementary rate. Additionally, it aims to provide extra funding for expanding career and technical education in middle school and junior high programs. The bill amends sections 20-9-306 and 20-9-311 of the Montana Code Annotated (MCA) to reflect these changes, addressing the current funding disparity that exists between 6th graders and their 7th and 8th grade peers.

Furthermore, the bill establishes a funding mandate for accredited middle and junior high school programs, requiring districts to allocate at least $100 multiplied by the number of ANB in these programs to enhance career and technical education opportunities for students in grades 6 through 8. This funding must support age-appropriate, work-based learning and align with the district's Advanced Opportunity Plan. The bill also introduces new reporting requirements for school districts to report attendance and enrollment semiannually and specifies that it applies to school budgeting processes starting from fiscal years beginning July 1, 2026.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 20-9-306, 20-9-311
HB0339_1(1): 20-9-306, 20-9-311
HB0339_1(2): 20-9-306, 20-9-311
HB0339_1(3): 20-9-306, 20-9-311
HB0339_1(4): 20-9-306, 20-9-311
HB0339_1(5): 20-9-306, 20-9-311
HB0339_1(6): 20-9-306, 20-9-311
HB0339_1: 20-9-306, 20-9-311
HB0339_2(1): 20-9-306, 20-9-311
HB0339_2(10): 20-9-306, 20-9-311
HB0339_2(11): 20-9-306, 20-9-311
HB0339_2(12): 20-9-306, 20-9-311
HB0339_2(2): 20-9-306, 20-9-311
HB0339_2(3): 20-9-306, 20-9-311
HB0339_2(4): 20-9-306, 20-9-311
HB0339_2(5): 20-9-306, 20-9-311
HB0339_2(6): 20-9-306, 20-9-311
HB0339_2(7): 20-9-306, 20-9-311
HB0339_2(8): 20-9-306, 20-9-311
HB0339_2(9): 20-9-306, 20-9-311
HB0339_2: 20-9-306, 20-9-311
HB0339_3(1): 20-9-306, 20-9-311
HB0339_3(10): 20-9-306, 20-9-311
HB0339_3(11): 20-9-306, 20-9-311
HB0339_3(12): 20-9-306, 20-9-311
HB0339_3(13): 20-9-306, 20-9-311
HB0339_3(14): 20-9-306, 20-9-311
HB0339_3(15): 20-9-306, 20-9-311
HB0339_3(16): 20-9-306, 20-9-311
HB0339_3(2): 20-9-306, 20-9-311
HB0339_3(3): 20-9-306, 20-9-311
HB0339_3(4): 20-9-306, 20-9-311
HB0339_3(5): 20-9-306, 20-9-311
HB0339_3(6): 20-9-306, 20-9-311
HB0339_3(7): 20-9-306, 20-9-311
HB0339_3(8): 20-9-306, 20-9-311
HB0339_3(9): 20-9-306, 20-9-311
HB0339_3: 20-9-306, 20-9-311