2023 Montana Code Annotated › Title 20. Education › Chapter 6. School Districts › Part 8. Public Charter Schools › 20-6-810. Charter contract revocation and school closure or charter contract nonrenewal

20-6-810. Charter contract revocation and school closure or charter contract nonrenewal.
(1) A charter contract may be subject to nonrenewal or revocation if the board of public education determines that the public charter school:
(a) committed a material and substantial violation of any of the terms, conditions, standards, or procedures required under this part or the charter contract and from which the public charter school was not exempted;
(b) failed to meet or make sufficient progress toward the performance expectations set forth in the charter contract;
(c) failed to meet public safety standards; or
(d) failed to meet generally accepted standards of fiscal management.
(2) The board of public education shall develop revocation and nonrenewal processes that:
(a) provide the governing board with timely notification of the prospect of revocation or nonrenewal and of the reasons for the possible closure;
(b) allow the governing board a reasonable amount of time in which to prepare a response;
(c) provide the governing board an opportunity to submit documents and testimony at a hearing to challenge the rationale for the closure recommendation and in support of the continuation of the school;
(d) allow the governing board to be represented by counsel and call witnesses on their behalf;
(e) permit the recording of the proceedings; and
(f) provide for a final determination conveyed in writing to the governing board.
(3) If the board of public education revokes or denies renewal of a charter, the board shall clearly state, by resolution, the reasons for the revocation or nonrenewal.
(4) Within 10 days of taking action to renew, not renew, or revoke a charter, the board of public education shall provide a copy of the resolution setting forth the action taken and reasons for the decision.
(5) (a) Prior to a public charter school closure, the board of public education shall develop a public charter school closure protocol to ensure timely notification to parents, orderly transition of students and student records to new schools, and proper disposition of school funds, property, and assets in accordance with the requirements of this part. The protocol must specify responsible parties, transition and closure timelines, and a delineation of the respective duties of the governing board of the public charter school and the board of public education.
(b) The board of public education shall oversee the closure and work with the governing board of the public charter school to ensure a smooth and orderly closure and transition for students and parents.
(c) In the event of a public charter school closure for any reason, the nonrestricted distributable assets of the public charter school must be distributed first to satisfy outstanding payroll obligations for employees of the public charter school, then to creditors of the public charter school, then to public school districts to which students previously attending the closed charter school are returning on a prorated per-pupil basis, and then to the state general fund. If the assets of the public charter school are insufficient to pay all obligations, the prioritization of the distribution of assets may be determined by a court of law.
History: En. Sec. 10, Ch. 510, L. 2023.