Yes/No Charter Schools

From Montana Democrats:

There was an important development in the two competing charter school bills we have been tracking. That important development... both of them died on the Senate floor.

First, HB 562, Authorize establishment of community choice schools, sponsored by Rep. Sue Vinton (R-Lockwood) would authorize the creation of “community choice schools” under the jurisdiction of a new, autonomous statewide commission attached to the Montana Board of Public Education. Parents and community groups could, under HB 562, seek approval for such a school directly from the new commission or from an authorized local school board. Choice schools would be subject to the same federal laws as K-12 public schools, but governed at the state level by their own set of curricular, licensing and academic reporting regulations.

HB 562 died in the Senate on 2nd reading by a 23-27 vote.

Second was HB 549, Authorizing the establishment of public charter schools, sponsored by Rep. Fred Anderson (R-Great Falls). HB 549 sought to place state oversight of charter schools directly in the hands of the Board of Public Education. Under the bill, public charter schools would be governed by the same laws and administrative rules applied to public schools, and be under the local jurisdiction of either an existing elected school board or a locally elected charter school board.

However, the Senate was not having it as HB 562 also died on 2nd reading by rare lopsided vote of 8-42.