2023 Montana Code Annotated › Title 20. Education › Chapter 9. Finance › Part 3. Funding of Basic System of Quality Public Schools › 20-9-313. Circumstances under which regular average number belonging may be increased

20-9-313. Circumstances under which regular average number belonging may be increased.
(1) The average number belonging of a school, calculated in accordance with the ANB formula prescribed in 20-9-311, may be increased when:
(a) the opening of a new elementary school or the reopening of an elementary school has been approved in accordance with 20-6-502. The average number belonging for the school must be established by the county superintendent and approved, disapproved, or adjusted by the superintendent of public instruction.
(b) the opening or reopening of a high school or a branch of the county high school has been approved in accordance with 20-6-503, 20-6-504, or 20-6-505. The average number belonging for the high school must be established by the county superintendent's estimate, after an investigation of the probable number of pupils that will attend the high school.
(c) a district anticipates an increase in the average number belonging due to the closing of a private or public school in the district or a neighboring district. The estimated increase in average number belonging must be established by the trustees and the county superintendent and approved, disapproved, or adjusted by the superintendent of public instruction no later than the fourth Monday in June.
(d) for the initial year of operation of a kindergarten program established under 20-7-117(1), the ANB to be used for budget purposes is:
(i) one-half the number of 5-year-old children residing in the district as of September 10 of the preceding school year, either as shown on the official school census or as determined by some other procedure approved by the superintendent of public instruction, for the purpose of implementing a half-time kindergarten program as provided in 20-1-301; or
(ii) the number of 5-year-old children residing in the district as of September 10 of the preceding school year, either as shown on the official school census or as determined by some other procedure approved by the superintendent of public instruction, for the purpose of implementing a full-time kindergarten program as provided in 20-1-301; or
(e) a high school district provides early graduation for a student who completes graduation requirements in less than eight semesters or the equivalent amount of secondary school enrollment. The increase must be established by the trustees as though the student had attended to the end of the school fiscal year and must be approved, disapproved, or adjusted by the superintendent of public instruction.
(2) This section does not apply to the expansion of a half-time kindergarten program to a full-time kindergarten program.
History: En. 75-6903 by Sec. 253, Ch. 5, L. 1971; amd. Sec. 4, Ch. 345, L. 1973; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 343, L. 1974; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 141, L. 1975; R.C.M. 1947, 75-6903; amd. Sec. 4, Ch. 334, L. 1979; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 148, L. 1981; amd. Sec. 7, Ch. 337, L. 1989; amd. Sec. 6, Ch. 466, L. 1993; amd. Sec. 11, Ch. 343, L. 1999; amd. Sec. 14, Ch. 1, Sp. L. May 2007; amd. Sec. 6, Ch. 240, L. 2023.