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Committee backs HB 567 to incentivize multi-district school collaboration; sponsors, supporters say statewide rollout will be gradual
Summary
The Montana House Appropriations Committee voted unanimously to advance House Bill 567, which would create a state incentive for countywide multi-district agreements allowing school districts to share services and programs while preserving local control.
The Montana House Appropriations Committee voted unanimously to give House Bill 567 a do-pass recommendation after a hearing in which sponsors and education advocates argued the measure encourages districts to share services while preserving local control.
Representative Barker, the bill sponsor, said the proposal lets districts voluntarily form countywide agreements to collaborate on services such as transportation, curriculum support and administration and offers an incentive tied to the state—s quality educator payment. "There are no mandates in this bill. It's still local control, local choice," Barker said in closing remarks before the committee voted to advance the bill.
Paul Taylor, an Office of Public Instruction (OPI) staff member, appeared as an informational witness to answer fiscal questions. A longset of…
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