Senate Education Committee advances bill expanding parental access to student information, adds expedited appeals process

The Montana Senate Education Committee voted 8-6 to pass Senate Bill 299 as amended, a bill that revises how school districts must provide parents access to student information and that creates a short appeals timeline and a trustee-appointed review committee.

Mr. Jack McCracken, a committee staff member who summarized the bill, said the measure “revises laws regarding parental involvement in a child's education,” adding it would “ensure parents have full access to information, and procedures for parents to register complaints.” The amendment attached at the committee meeting shortens one appeal deadline and sets new requirements for how school boards must investigate complaints.

The amendment moved by Vice Chair Novak reduced the appeal window from 30 days to 14 days and added a requirement that a board of trustees appoint a committee to investigate a parent's appeal. Under the amendment, the committee…