OPI hosting online meeting on controversial special needs voucher bill

Montana Superintendent of Public Instruction Elsie Arntzen will host Wednesday her department’s third monthly virtual community discussion on education legislation passed during the 68th legislative session, focusing this month on a controversial bill allowing parents of children with special needs to be reimbursed with public funds when sending children to private education.

The Legislature passed the bill, House Bill 393, and it was signed into law buy Gov. Greg Gianforte along with two charter school bills.

OPI’s online discussion will be held Wednesday at 7 p.m. via Zoom at https://mt-gov.zoom.us/j/82900294903?pwd=RkdYeWorNTFrOVJKNlUvaWVIOW1CZz09 and will be moderated by the Office of Public Instruction’s chief legal counsel.

OPI is holding the sessions as “open opportunities for parents, families, teachers, school leaders, and legislators” to participate. The theme is “Local Accountability: How Recent Legislation Affects Families, Students, and Communities.”

Opponents of the bill being discussed, House Bill 393, said it is a way to use vouchers to transfer money from Montana’s public schools to private education and is unneeded.

Montana Quality Education Coalition said its partners in opposing the bill including Montana School Board Association, Montana Federation of Public Employees, School Administrators of Montana, Montana Rural Education Association, Montana Association of School Business Officials and 98 school districts.

In the release announcing Wednesday’s meeting, Arntzen praised the bill and its sponsor.

“More communication with parents and schools surrounding students of all abilities makes for a successful school year for all,” she said in the press release. “I am grateful to (Rep. Sue Vinton, R-Billings)’s passion for recognizing that parents direct educational goals in a partnership with the school and now through community education services with the passage of HB 393. This bill allows the best fit for the student.”

The August discussion will focus on details from HB 393 and how the legislation will affect children of all abilities and educational services in communities across the state.

The meeting agenda can be found online at https://opi.mt.gov/Portals/182/Page%20Files/Parent%20Resources/Community%20Meetings/CommunityMeeting_8.23.23.PDF?ver=2023-07-07-095405-543 and a summary of House Bill 393 can be found online at https://opi.mt.gov/Portals/182/Page%20Files/Parent%20Resources/2023.08.21%20HB0393%20summary%20(final).pdf?ver=2023-08-21-170823-070 .

The recording of the second discussion and the dates for the next discussions are available on OPI’s Parent Resources page at https://opi.mt.gov/Families-Students/Parent-Resources/Parent-Resources .

People are asked to join the discussion with their microphone muted as instructions will be given on how and when they will be able to join in, to keep the meeting running smoothly.