Visuals for a New Funding Formula: The Steps Necessary to Provide a Constitutional Education to Montana

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Visuals for a New Funding
FormulaThe Steps Necessaryto Provide a
Constitutional Education to Montanas Children
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A Formula Based on the Basic System of Quality
Schools in Montana

• An obligation of the Montana Legislature in
  pursuit of compliance with the Courts order in
  Columbia Falls Elementary v. State.
• Must be based on two items
• The Legislatures definition of quality in
  20-9-309, MCA.
• An assessment of educational needs.
• Must rationally identify and meet the needs of
  children as the first and really only priority
  for K-12 public education

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Where is the Legislature in Progressing Toward a
New Formula?

• SB 152, defining the basic system of free quality
  schools, has passed and is codified in law at
  20-9-309, MCA.
• The quality schools interim committee (QSIC) was
  flawed from the start and did not finish its
  work.
• The Legislature and Governor abandoned the QSIC
  process and implemented political-based funding,
  based on perceived affordability and power rather
  than on educational need.
• The lack of connection between the definition of
  quality and the funding formula is harming
  children.

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Establishing and Maintaining a Rational,
Self-Executing Formula

• Continually ask
• Is the system serving all children?
• Is the system accommodating
• evolving dynamics and realities?
• Is the system honoring and is it in
• compliance with our constitutional
• responsibilities under Article X?

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Basic Starting Point The System Must Serve
Children
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Differentiated Instruction and Servicesto Meet
the Unique Needs of all Children
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The Classroom Essentials
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The School Essentials
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The District Essentials
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Stakeholders with a Responsibility for
Involvementin Assessing and Meeting Educational
Needs
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Summary of Necessary Steps

1. Define the basic system of quality schools
   (Accomplished SB 152)
2. Assess educational needs (Not Accomplished QSIC
   process broke down)
3. Implement Cost-Based Funding Formula (Not
   Accomplished, requires a bonified study process
   as a prerequisite)

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What Can Policy MakersDo to Help?

• Support a legitimate assessment of educational
  needs.
• Note MQEC is in the process of commissioning
  such analyses, using both professional judgment
  and successful schools methodologies, and
  focusing on the Legislatures definition of
  quality in SB 152. Legislation will be developed
  for the 2007 Session.
• Support a funding formula based on educational
  needs, not on the basis of politics, power, and
  perceived affordability.