This bill seeks to amend Montana's school funding laws by ensuring that 6th graders in accredited middle schools receive funding at the same Average Number Belonging (ANB) rates as their 7th and 8th grade counterparts, addressing the current disparity where 6th graders are funded at a lower elementary rate. The proposed changes aim to enhance educational offerings in middle schools, allowing them to meet accreditation standards and provide comprehensive programs, including career and technical education. The bill specifically amends Sections 20-9-306 and 20-9-311 of the Montana Code Annotated (MCA) to include new definitions and funding structures that reflect this alignment, while also deleting references to junior high schools and certain grade programs.

Additionally, the bill encourages collaboration between school districts providing special education services and agencies serving adults with developmental disabilities to support students' transition plans. It modifies the classification of students for ANB purposes, changing the grade considered as elementary from 7th to 6th grade, and stipulates that 6th, 7th, and 8th graders in accredited middle schools will be classified as high school pupils. The bill also mandates semiannual reports on attendance and enrollment, clarifies conditions for ANB calculations, and establishes an effective date upon passage, with the new funding structure applying to school budgeting processes starting July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 20-9-306, 20-9-311