Montana Quality Education Coalition

The pending federal scholarship tax credit program will offer individuals up to $1,700 in tax credits if they donate to qualified student scholarship organizations. Students awarded scholarships can put them toward public or private school expenses like tuition, supplies or educational therapies.

A Helena judge has blocked a program that allowed parents of students with disabilities to spend state funds on private education expenses. The judge found the program was being funded illegally, because lawmakers hadn’t followed proper procedure.

Gov. Greg Gianforte has signed two bills that pave the way for public charter schools in Montana. Public school advocates have promised legal action against one of them.