New voices join Montana’s charter school lawsuit
Three intervenors joined the ongoing litigation over House Bill 562 this week, arguing that the currently blocked law is critical to their plans to open specialized choice schools in their communities.
Latest education Reporting
Lawmakers renew education policy discussions
Lawmakers began exploring where the next wave of public school policy reforms might lead in the 2025 Legislature. But the broader goals so far appear unchanged, including addressing Montana’s teacher shortage and reshaping education to emphasize individual student achievement.
How Montana is paying the way in trades education
This spring, lawmakers upped state funding for Montana’s Advanced Opportunities program to $4 million a year, the bulk of which will go to covering out-of-pocket expenses for students charting their own course into the trades.
Judge blocks portion of law allowing charter schools in Montana
A state judge in Helena Wednesday blocked portions of a law passed by the 2023 Legislature to create a system of charter schools — or what supporters call “community choice schools” — in Montana.
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How Choteau area schools are tackling Montana’s teacher shortage
Ahead of the fall semester, schools across Montana were struggling to fill hundreds of open educator positions. But in Teton County, administrators reported they were on relatively stable footing, even as low pay and high housing prices continue to present challenges.
Montana’s community choice school commission takes shape
Gov. Greg Gianforte and other elected officials recently named their appointees to a new charter school commission created by the 2023 Legislature. Meanwhile, a judge in Helena is weighing whether to temporarily halt the law that authorizes community choice schools.
Montana schools working to comply with new state laws
School officials are working to update local policies to reflect a new batch of state education laws, and running into legal questions about parental rights and transgender protections in the process.
State superintendent Arntzen claims to have evidence for litter boxes in Montana schools
Asked for clarification, Office of Public Instruction staff said the agency has received “no formal complaints” over hot-button rumor, hasn’t investigated.
State officials partly restore OPI’s contracting authority
Montana’s Office of Public Instruction lost its authority this spring to award third-party contracts for goods and services. Now, a follow-up review by state officials has partly restored that authority, allowing OPI to authorize its own purchases up to $100,000.
State education forum addresses obscenity, religious expression in schools
In the second of four online discussions about recent changes to Montana education law, state Superintendent Elsie Arntzen focused Wednesday on a trio of bills that impact obscene materials and religious practices in the public school system.
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MORE EDUCATION REPORTING
Montana begins implementing language preservation changes
Lawmakers this spring passed a bill that tribal advocates hope will bring more accountability and transparency to state funding for tribal language preservation. Now Montana’s Office of Public Instruction is crafting rules to put that law into action.
New law expands language support for deaf students
House Bill 619 passed the 2023 Legislature with broad bipartisan support, directing the state to set milestones for language acquisition among deaf and hard of hearing youth and creating an advisory committee to spearhead the work.
How Montana schools are preparing for worst-case scenarios
Last fall, the Big Sky School District became Montana’s first to employ an armed marshal under a 2021 state law. The move is just one example of the myriad ways Montana school officials are seeking to respond to the national specter of gun-based violence.
OPI to use Medicaid data for school meal programs
Next month, Montana will join 40 other states in testing the use of Medicaid data to certify K-12 students for free or reduced-price lunches. OPI maintains the pilot program will be unaffected by an unrelated review of the state’s Medicaid rolls, which resulted in more than 15,000 people losing coverage in April.
OPI hosts virtual forum on Montana’s charter school bills
Superintendent Elsie Arntzen hosted the first of four virtual forums aimed at discussing new changes to Montana education laws. The topic this time? The Legislature’s dueling charter school bills.
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