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Board updates charter school contracts and directs staff on pending applications
Summary
The board approved technical revisions to public charter contracts (performance frameworks, reporting timelines, audit references, budget reporting and enrollment funding language) and supported staff direction to prepare approval and denial resolutions for two charter applicants, directing three others to reapply with stronger applications.
The Montana Board of Public Education approved staff‑recommended updates to the state's public charter school contract language and provided direction on a set of pending charter school applications.
Staff described amendments intended to reduce duplicative reporting and clarify expectations: charter schools would submit school‑specific goals rather than entire performance frameworks; quarterly financial reports are required only in a charter's first year; audit schedules will reference the relevant statute rather than require an annual submission; and budget/cash‑flow expectations will rely on existing trustee financial summaries (TFS) and preliminary budget data when those reports contain material charter information. Contract language was also clarified to explain the funding adjustment mechanism for enrollment shortfalls (next‑year funding reductions rather than retroactive claw‑backs).
Following that review, the charter committee reported its scored recommendations on a batch of applications. After discussion during a work session, members signaled support to move two applicants — Stevensville Health Science Academy and Park Pathways School — forward for approval resolutions at the board's next session. Several other applications received insufficient scores on innovation and academic program criteria and the committee recommended denial with encouragement to reapply with stronger plans and partnerships.
Board members discussed how to balance innovation, community need and financial reporting burdens on districts; they directed staff to draft resolutions reflecting the committee's recommendations for formal action at the next meeting.
The board did not finalize funding decisions for all applicants at the work session; staff will prepare the formal approval/denial motions and any revised contract language for future action.
