[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6625970,"mediaKeyId","2755211-371813fb6ec77f2b67aacac1b8f9758b","parentId",2755211,"title","Bill would let Community Choice Charter Commission seek public and federal funds; opponents warn of fiscal and equity risks","audioSeconds",1626,"startMs",1070000,"endMs",2696000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2755211-371813fb6ec77f2b67aacac1b8f9758b&start=1070&end=2696","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2755211-371813fb6ec77f2b67aacac1b8f9758b/thumbnail_1070000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6625970/Montana/Bill-would-let-Community-Choice-Charter-Commission-seek-public-and-federal-funds-opponents-warn-of-fiscal-and-equity-risks","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6625970-21f89ad4b318fd72d48c46a1d4c97dfc/orig.mp4?Expires=1771093226&Signature=bWYNabI6gNQsGZbVg2bwaI5I1GO04LlZCRiMlveJaPr8xuaAvou1yuvNNQ1sQJoOM-3B4hn~Vvw3V5dluhEAgdcV0qqtMzYSpAeNakAOF6USv4Zrac7ua7QNChu9LcSquAUlT6vhyjLDC6MGNIKFJt8KW9tFYUZWwuQt3dvz8kPkZ~C56opRE21DsuOnub2FZc1~kOsWlO6g7ftNMuNXLuBJcvNwz7WQy9PxMODUSTfcuABuYorB~2LxBLKECp608dj0qBVA2hh1WVeWJ-pWHt5b9dCl0hTfn2xpQ5vg16kjg58PZS73aKzOTqyWsPQj51tW5uB9bZcT6OeqcPVCjA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Montana Legislature","date","2025-03-24T00:00:00Z","article","Senator Vinton opened a hearing on Senate Bill 177, which would allow the Community Choice Charter School Commission to seek and receive public funds, including federal charter-startup grants, to support the formation and early operations of community choice charter schools.

\"The authorization of the commission to seek and receive public funds will open our state to accessing federal grant money that is specifically allocated for new community choice charter schools,\" Senator Vinton said, describing the bill’s limited changes to the law as focused on fundraising authority.

Trish Scheiber, chair of the Community Choice Schools Commission, told the committee the commission currently has no state appropriation and funds operations through authorizing fees and private fundraising; she said allowing the commission to accept public funds would make Montana eligible to apply for the federal Charter Schools Program (CSP) so the commission could subgrant planning and startup funds to schools. \"Passing of this bill will allow the commission to apply for the funds, which in turn the commission can award as subgrants to the community choice schools for their planning year and initial operations,\" Scheiber said.

Supporters cited out‑of‑state CSP awards as examples of available federal funding and said Montana’s commission needs the ability to apply in order to bring federal dollars to the state. Panel testimony listed recent national CSP awards and examples: West Virginia received $12 million in February 2023 and Idaho received $25 million (second award), and proponents noted the CSP national appropriation was large enough to matter to states with strong charter laws.

Trish Scheiber said the commission raised approximately $325,000 in private funds, including an unexpected private grant of about $300,000, and projected that administrative costs to run the commission could be roughly $150,000–$200,000 annually once a full‑time staffer and operations are in place. Committee members asked whether the grant programs would require the commission to retain a portion for administration; Scheiber said federal rules often permit the grantee to retain a small percentage for administration.

Opponents raised constitutional and fiscal concerns. Joy Koehl, representing the League of Women Voters of Montana, urged the committee to reject SB 177. \"SB 177 allows for the Community Choice School Commission to seek and receive public funding, whether federal or state. It can provide for the diversion of income from the general fund where it can more equitably be available to fund Montana public schools,\" Koehl said. The League also noted no fiscal note was attached to the bill and warned of statewide equity and accountability issues for nonpublic schools.

Committee members questioned the scale of potential CSP funding and the commission’s budget. Kathy Kincheloe and OPI staff provided federal CSP totals and discussed administrative requirements for receiving and administering federal grants. Paul Taylor of OPI answered procedural questions about whether districts and OPI could accept contributions and how federal grants are administered.

Senator Vinton closed by saying the bill does not divert existing public school funding and asked for a do-concur recommendation. No committee vote was recorded at the hearing.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House Education - Mar 24, 2025 16:15 - 19:15","oneSentenceSummary","Senator Vinton opened a hearing on Senate Bill 177, which would allow the Community Choice Charter School Commission to seek and receive public funds, including federal charter-startup grants, to support the formation and early operations of community choice charter schools.","taxTitle","2025 Legislature MT, Montana","taxId",77694,"location","Montana","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6625965,"Bill to let teachers temporarily remove disruptive pupils advances in hearing; proponents stress due process safeguards",1208,2656000,3864000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2755211-371813fb6ec77f2b67aacac1b8f9758b&start=2656&end=3864","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2755211-371813fb6ec77f2b67aacac1b8f9758b/thumbnail_2656000.jpg","/articles/6625965/Montana/Bill-to-let-teachers-temporarily-remove-disruptive-pupils-advances-in-hearing-proponents-stress-due-process-safeguards","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6625965-90e2d4ec0134ad016e7663169e65846e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771093226&Signature=QNQlW1ip9aHXWCtGB41VLyULTaG0vvetBMNfTYzPKITDD4uwm857lideR-szsi~IXbcjiqhtZdK606xvU456ePJA1~Tm7-VnNcH32Q-UOJlVUAclzt9eDj~jQZblPOJsTL9EdvjDtKZ7wEZ95DVbn23SU14QQaDOQvt1E~k6NAgWcIzpzN6KpDfN4eL1-KTCS7nMzs5GnbPld7pXE9ea0uDRiM0PiKXaAeEKYvzQ2gdPTHnTJlGu2Rwc8bmwYa3SLdBs5onNtr7IP1qqIm65V5z0zOsmzj5sqaaYbaSyZ~82WcUMIX99Q8afIItGd8L3WybGK0HxJhZRXJ0hyJw9GA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senator Russ Temple told the House Education Committee Senate Bill 138 aims to give teachers a clear process to temporarily remove students whose disruptive behavior significantly interferes with classroom instruction and to require school boards to adopt policies defining that authority.

\"This bill empowers Montana teachers to maintain a positive and a productive learning environment for the kids, allowing them to temporarily remove the students from the classroom if their behavior interferes with the learning of others,\" Senator Russ Temple said when he introduced the measure.

Proponents from teacher and education groups described student behavior as a widely reported reason teachers consider leaving the profession. Kim Popham, director of public policy and research at the Montana Federation of Public Employees and a former biology teacher, said the bill reflects best practices in districts that already use similar processes and could help retain early‑career teachers. \"This could help keep them in the classroom,\" Popham said.

Doug Reisig, executive director of the Montana Quality Education Coalition speaking for the Coalition of Advocates for Montana's Public Schools, told the committee SB 138 includes procedural safeguards and requires that pupils excluded from a classroom return only under a return plan communicated to the teacher; he said the bill expressly requires compliance with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.

The bill sets some limits: testimony and questions referenced a removal period \"not to exceed 24 hours\" and applicability only in schools that have at least a half‑time administrator on site. School boards would be required to adopt local policies defining teacher authority and the procedures administrators must follow, including return plans that could include behavioral contracts and parent communication.

Committee members asked about administrative capacity in rural districts and potential misuse of the authority. Representative Strand asked how the policy would work where administrators are scarce; an association witness, Mr. Melton of the county school board association, said model policies exist and the bill was amended to require at least a half‑time administrator in the building to reduce the risk of unsupervised removals.

Representative Visley questioned whether the 24‑hour removal window provided sufficient time to draft and implement return plans. Proponents responded the return process can be as simple as a brief meeting or parent contact and does not require lengthy paperwork in all cases; they said the policy is intended to balance teacher authority, student due process and the need to maintain instruction for other students.

Senator Temple closed the hearing by saying he wants teachers to be able \"to teach the kids that that wanna learn,\" and urged committee support. No formal committee vote was recorded in the hearing record.","Senator Russ Temple told the House Education Committee Senate Bill 138 aims to give teachers a clear process to temporarily remove students whose disruptive behavior significantly interferes with classroom instruction and to require school boards to adopt policies defining that authority.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6625960,"Small cleanup bill would clarify how K–12 significant enrollment increases are calculated",239,4152000,4391000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2755211-371813fb6ec77f2b67aacac1b8f9758b&start=4152&end=4391","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2755211-371813fb6ec77f2b67aacac1b8f9758b/thumbnail_4152000.jpg","/articles/6625960/Montana/Small-cleanup-bill-would-clarify-how-K12-significant-enrollment-increases-are-calculated","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6625960-6acedbf65ba3dc23450a9cb7266c0290/orig.mp4?Expires=1771093226&Signature=TSDZuc1ifdpkfrrwMO6ryHtG2~4dpt6eMNGkUX0VC~tKmk5xdiOsDoLjU6SxJ3NWBmG4ZTFIU~0SfbCiTvJDdZP7FA4YN2Ao6oJJlDaMQn8L8Lx~dg10a8Spbt-CEVsAchFGUThPu0FDeyQHrn03XuNxwPnxyTVVWn2Ra22r-SA3qxBwT3n-MVYGxgGGyk7hzElcyXgVMS1uXTMStTk5TLYWa7Cw8Ckyxtq3Yw~RWvP0qSJeOpBATwFDYCk-Yk54YAPwmRrmGtIFo-QGoySTDwJ1Tynd81hsD3Zk6ekenixhCPPKGHaQG--ppEG5A1d62HnwseO3pjElyqmeun3dZQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senator Emmerich introduced Senate Bill 37 to the House Education Committee as a statutory clarification to the school funding code. The measure would explicitly require that calculations for \"significant enrollment increases\" be performed at the budget‑unit level.

\"The bill you have before you today is Senate Bill number 37, and it's an act of revising school funding laws to clarify that the calculations for significant enrollment increases are made at the budget unit level,\" Senator Emmerich said, describing the measure as a cleanup to align statute with current practice.

Paul Taylor of the Office of Public Instruction gave the informational backdrop and told the committee the change reflects how OPI has been calculating significant enrollment increases since interim adjustments after pandemic funding changes. He said the bill received interim review and is intended to remove ambiguity about whether increases are measured at the district level or by budget unit.

No opponents or additional informational witnesses appeared in the hearing record. Senator Emmerich asked the committee for a do‑pass recommendation, saying the change simply documents current administrative practice to help ensure funding flows to where enrollment demands it.

The hearing record shows no formal committee vote during the session.","Senate Bill 37 clarifies that calculations for significant enrollment increases should be made at the budget‑unit level (for example by grade span or program), a change OPI described as code cleanup to reflect current practice; no proponents or opponents opposed the bill at hearing.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6625975,"Committee hears bill to require OPI curriculum on identifying and avoiding child trafficking",928,127000,1055000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2755211-371813fb6ec77f2b67aacac1b8f9758b&start=127&end=1055","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2755211-371813fb6ec77f2b67aacac1b8f9758b/thumbnail_127000.jpg","/articles/6625975/Montana/Committee-hears-bill-to-require-OPI-curriculum-on-identifying-and-avoiding-child-trafficking","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6625975-b70e12e8fb1b1e0f757feb31afb17d11/orig.mp4?Expires=1771093226&Signature=Tpr91~urrXTFTZFWEI4qGyoNuypLGxdPpUVIBiVcIGX5~qyjozw7YTmje1zuKK-ehm6PKulT3bbrL~ZEDJ~QqZvX5EJadvipD77ysFb8D3pE-h-wWWzUhxhSOLD3Kz8WntmeisarzEjDueQhfXtOapYWqBgXrO5G55x2cQc~3Aa15LzsPUwwBGdU~QeNAtIvEtxpnFgWrzK3SE~8QCwPY8tYmgohvOl0Pyr2JGDlzF-gVdm7-x4P15odNBALryuFOBAqiGuEnV1QPKGQLyt1ixDYDCfpdTIv4S0bEB9OIfZXrLSCtQDwAtzZrqtDq7UtcOYW8hFmn16xnoJzsc6V5A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senator Susan Webber, sponsor of Senate Bill 107, asked the House Education Committee to give the bill a \"due pass\" after describing SB 107 as a preventive measure that would require the Office of Public Instruction to develop instruction and curricula to help middle- and high-school students identify and avoid human trafficking and grooming behaviors.

\"What I have before you is Senate Bill 107 which is a critical component, of this legislature's responsibility to protect the children of Montana,\" Senator Susan Webber said. She described the bill as focused on students in grades between middle school and the end of high school and said it would aim to give students skills to spot signs and behavior changes that could indicate grooming or trafficking.

The bill’s proponents told the committee they view school-based education as a prevention tool. Patch Kiewake, representing the Blackfeet Scribe, Fort Belknap Indian Community and the Chippewa Cree Tribe of Rocky Boy, said states that have implemented trafficking education found it a useful preventive measure and pointed to existing federal funding sources for curriculum development. \"Human traffickers are targeting the youth as young as 9,\" Kiewake said.

Imani Kynes Coleman, policy analyst at the Montana Budget and Policy Center and a citizen of the Crow Tribe, cited state reporting to illustrate the problem: \"The number of cases has increased from just 7 in 2015 to 143 in 2023. That is a 1900 percent increase,\" she said, arguing early prevention could reduce risk and support missing-and-murdered Indigenous peoples (MMIP) efforts.

Katie Bloodgood, legislative liaison for the Office of Public Instruction, told the panel OPI already offers materials, training and partnerships and that SB 107 would expand and centralize those efforts. \"While OPI already does have many materials available for human trafficking, training, prevention and awareness, we are prepared to continue and expand our efforts,\" Bloodgood said. She told lawmakers the bill requires OPI to make resources available; it does not itself mandate local school districts to implement the curriculum.

Supporters described the bill’s likely content as age‑appropriate instruction on recognizing warning signs, avoiding risky situations and connecting to supports, and they cited possible funding from federal victim services and education grants to develop materials. The sponsor pointed to out‑of‑state models and said some versions require a single offering between seventh and 12th grade, though she favored flexibility in delivery.

Committee members asked OPI staff whether the agency already provides similar trainings and how widely they have been adopted. Bloodgood said OPI partners with outside organizations and the Department of Justice to supply training but does not centrally track every local use; she said SB 107 would help OPI continue and bolster that work.

No formal vote was recorded at the hearing. Senator Webber closed by urging the committee to advance the measure as a preventive step for schools and communities.

The hearing record includes committee questions and multiple proponents from tribal and policy organizations; opponents were not recorded at the hearing.","Senate Bill 107 would direct the Office of Public Instruction to develop middle- and high-school instruction to help students, teachers and families recognize and avoid human trafficking and grooming behaviors; supporters cited rising trafficking reports and links to Montana’s missing and Indigenous persons data.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Bill would let Community Choice Charter Commission seek public and federal funds; opponents warn of fiscal and equity risks

Bill to let teachers temporarily remove disruptive pupils advances in hearing; proponents stress due process safeguards

Small cleanup bill would clarify how K–12 significant enrollment increases are calculated

Committee hears bill to require OPI curriculum on identifying and avoiding child trafficking