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 implement these changes, addressing the current funding disparity where 6th graders receive less funding than their 7th and 8th grade peers.

Furthermore, the bill establishes a new requirement for school districts operating accredited middle and junior high school programs to allocate at least $100 multiplied by the number of ANB in those programs towards enhancing career and technical education opportunities for students in grades 6 through 8. This funding must align with the district's Advanced Opportunity Plan and include age-appropriate, work-based learning experiences. The bill also clarifies the inclusion criteria for ANB calculations, particularly regarding preschool pupils and students over 19 years of age, while providing provisions for schools located far from others to be treated as separate budget units. The proposed changes are set to take effect from the school fiscal year 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