House Education hears hours of testimony on HB320 (MAPS), a privately funded school-choice tax-credit plan

Helena — Representative Lee Deming, sponsor of House Bill 320, told the House Education Committee that HB320 would create the Montana Academic Prosperity Program for Scholars (MAPS), a privately funded education-assistance program with two entry paths: donor-funded education-assistance accounts and an education tax-credit pathway that families could use for qualified educational expenses.

"MAPS allows for educational assistance up to about $7,000 annually," Deming said as he outlined program mechanics, including a per-entry donation cap of $4,000,000, an aggregate cap of $8,000,000, a 10% program-manager fee from donations, and eligibility for assistance accounts set at households at or below 500% of the federal poverty level. Deming stressed that participation would be voluntary and said MAPS would not draw from the state general fund.

The hearing drew a large, largely split turnout. Proponents — including state senators, parents, private-school leaders, scholarship organizations and policy groups — described MAPS as a way to expand choices for families who cannot afford alternatives to public school or whose children do not thrive in traditional classrooms.

Senator Sue Vinton, appearing in support, said MAPS would "offer all children all the…