More state officials are voicing frustration over what they say are misinterpretations of education laws from Montana’s leader of K-12 schools.
The latest criticism leveled against superintendent Elsie Arntzen echoes concerns from state lawmakers that her office is failing to implement new education policies.
That includes the rollout of public charter schools. The Board of Public Education gave the green light for 18 of the schools to open later this year.
But, the Office of Public Instruction said its reading of the law requires the schools to also be approved by county commissioners before they can open.
Board of Public Education chair Tim Tharp said every attorney they’ve consulted has said Arntzen’s office is wrong.
“I find this to be a highly distasteful situation where one constitutional body is forced to request that another constitutional body carry out duties as prescribed,” Tharp said.
The Board of Public Education unanimously instructed Arntzen to change course before a July deadline.
But Arntzen doubled down on her position in a statement released after the vote. She wrote, in part, “we need to roll up our sleeves and focus on lawfully opening these schools, not getting caught in an endless loop of rhetoric.”
Arntzen proposed that the Board of Public Education pass an administrative rule to clarify the law. But, the board’s legal counsel said that wasn’t necessary.
It’s unclear whether the charter schools will meet the law’s July 1 deadline to open if the legal disagreement drags on.
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The state’s highest-ranking K-12 education leader is set to leave her post next month after eight years in office. Superintendent of Public Instruction Elsie Artnzen presided over an education landscape rocked and reshaped by the COVID-19 pandemic. She joined MTPR’s Austin Amestoy to reflect on her two terms and look ahead to the future of Montana’s schools. -
An audit of Montana’s Office of Public Instruction raises questions over how the agency spent more than $67 million in federal funding. -
Math scores are improving and reading scores are sliding among Montana’s elementary and middle schoolers. That’s according to test results released by the state department of education Tuesday. -
Primary election night is June 4 and one of the most decisive races to watch will be for Montana’s second Congressional district–known as the Eastern House seat. 12 candidates are trying to win the seat and the primary race will determine which Republican and Democrat will square off in November. -
We are gathering information from all statewide candidates as a resource for the 2024 Primary Elections. Responses were limited to 200 words per question. Political attacks may have been removed, but otherwise, the responses are published unedited. -
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