Prohibit discrimination by nonpublic school receiving tax credit scholarships
Impact
The bill amends existing laws, specifically Sections 15-30-3102 and 15-30-3103 of the Montana Code Annotated. It establishes clearer guidelines for what constitutes a 'qualified education provider'. For example, accredited, provisional accreditation, or non-accredited status must be explicitly disclosed to parents, ensuring transparency. Additionally, the bill mandates that student scholarship organizations must ensure compliance with these rules and guarantees that scholarships are broadly available to eligible students regardless of the specific provider they choose.
Summary
House Bill 533, introduced by E. Stafman, seeks to revise the laws surrounding tax credit scholarships in Montana, particularly focusing on the qualifications and limitations of educational providers receiving such scholarships. Notably, the legislation prohibits qualified education providers from promoting certain viewpoints related to race, religion, or culture as part of their instruction. This is designed to ensure that schools maintain a neutral educational environment while accepting tax benefits through scholarship programs.
Contention
A point of contention surrounding HB 533 is the interpretation of 'certain viewpoints' and how it may affect the curriculum presented at qualified education providers. Critics argue that the legislation could restrict academic freedom and the ability of educators to teach comprehensive courses that address historical and social issues. Proponents, on the other hand, argue that the bill is necessary to protect students from biased instruction and to create educational environments that respect diversity without imposing certain ideologies on students.
Schools, failing, scholarships for students assigned to in order to attend another public or nonpublic school, income tax credits for contributions to scholarship granting organizations increased, Sec. 16-6D-9 am'd.
Schools, failing, scholarships for students assigned to in order to attend another public or nonpublic school, income tax credits for contributions to scholarship granting organizations increased, Sec. 16-6D-9 am'd.
To create the Alabama Fits All Scholarship Program; require the State Board of Education to contract with a program manager to administer the program; to authorize the program manager to establish scholarship accounts on behalf of eligible students; to prohibit a program manager from accepting scholarship funds in certain circumstances; to require fiscal safeguards and accountability measures; to require eligible schools and service providers to meet certain standards to be eligible to receive scholarship funds; to authorize the program manager to distribute scholarship funds; to require the State Board of Education to provide limited oversight of the program manager, including an appeal process for the program manager's administrative decisions; to prohibit certain regulations of eligible schools and eligible service providers; to require criminal history background information checks for employees and officers of a program manager; to provide for program funding; and to require the program manager and the board to submit reports on the program to the Legislature.