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Visuals for a New Funding Formula: T he Steps Necessary to Provide a Constitutional Education to Montana’s Children

Visuals for a New Funding Formula: T he Steps Necessary to Provide a Constitutional Education to Montana’s Children. A Formula Based on the Basic System of Quality Schools in Montana.

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Visuals for a New Funding Formula: T he Steps Necessary to Provide a Constitutional Education to Montana’s Children

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  1. Visuals for a New Funding Formula:The Steps Necessaryto Provide a Constitutional Education to Montana’s Children

  2. A Formula Based on the Basic System of Quality Schools in Montana • An obligation of the Montana Legislature in pursuit of compliance with the Court’s order in Columbia Falls Elementary v. State. • Must be based on two items: • The Legislature’s 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

  3. 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.

  4. 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?

  5. Basic Starting Point: The System Must Serve Children

  6. Differentiated Instruction and Servicesto Meet the Unique Needs of all Children

  7. The Classroom Essentials

  8. The School Essentials

  9. The District Essentials

  10. Stakeholders with a Responsibility for Involvementin Assessing and Meeting Educational Needs

  11. Summary of Necessary Steps • Define the basic system of quality schools (Accomplished – SB 152) • Assess educational needs (Not Accomplished – QSIC process broke down) • Implement Cost-Based Funding Formula (Not Accomplished, requires a bonified study process as a prerequisite)

  12. 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 Legislature’s 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.

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