Montana House Bill HB441

Montana 2023 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/7/23
• Refer: 2/9/23

Caption

Implement report cards for nonpublic schools receiving tax credit scholarships

Impact

If enacted, HB 441 will significantly alter the landscape of education funding within the state. By obligating non-public educational institutions to perform standardized assessments similar to public schools, the bill aims to level the playing field in terms of educational quality and reporting. Additionally, it requires the Superintendent to publish report cards for these providers, similar to those already produced for public schools, which could provide greater transparency and enable parents to make better-informed decisions about educational opportunities for their children.

Summary

House Bill 441 seeks to revise the laws regarding tax credit scholarships in Montana with a particular focus on increasing the accountability of qualified education providers that receive these scholarships. The bill mandates that these education providers must administer the same assessments as public schools and ensure that they provide data to the Superintendent of Public Instruction. This move is intended to create a clearer framework for assessing the quality of education provided by non-public entities benefitting from state tax credits.

Contention

Despite its intention to enhance accountability, HB 441 has not been universally embraced. Critics argue that imposing public school standards on non-public education providers could undermine the very flexibility and innovation that such providers offer. There are concerns that the bill may create barriers to entry for new education providers and unnecessarily complicate the educational ecosystem in Montana. Proponents of the bill, however, assert that increased accountability measures are essential for maintaining educational standards across all types of educational institutions.