The Montana Legislature passed state legislation (HB 549) that took effect in July 2023. A separate bill concerning charter schools was also passed by the legislature and is being argued in court.

Under HB 549, public school districts may create charter schools within their existing local district, under the supervision of the current Board of Trustees.

MCPS submitted applications for two charter schools, and the Montana Board of Public Education accepted these applications in January 2024. The charter school contracts between MCPS and the Board of Public Education were finalized in February.

Missoula CONNECT Academy is an online academy for grades 6-12, designed to serve students with needs that may not be met by in-person school. This program will aim to be proficiency-based, allowing students to work at their own pace within the curriculum. There will be teaching staff dedicated to this academy and available to meet with students in-person as needed.

CONNECT Academy will be launching in Fall 2024. Registration begins April 1, 2024.

If your family is interested in applying, please complete an interest form for each student who is interested in attending Missoula CONNECT Academy. 

Missoula TEACH Academy is an arts integration academy for grades PreK-5. An arts focus will be integrated across the curriculum. The TEACH Academy will be an interdisciplinary arts integrated school that concurrently provides internship opportunities for aspiring educators in our high school CTE programs.

TEACH Academy will be launching in Fall 2024. Registration begins April 1, 2024.

If your family is interested in applying, please complete an interest form for each student who is interested in attending Missoula TEACH Academy. 

• Are meant to provide more educational options and expanded opportunities for students. Pursue a set of educational objectives and encourage varied models of teaching, learning and scheduling that strive to meet diverse needs of students.
• Serve students on a personalized basis
• Have some decision-making autonomy BUT also have District oversight and support.
• Cannot charge tuition and fees (there is no cost to students who attend)
• Are part of MCPS and will have District oversight and support. They are NOT a private, for-profit endeavor.

Funding

Charter schools are funded the same way other public schools are. MCPS charter schools do not cost the district more money. According to the funding structure described in HB 549, public school districts that establish charter schools receive additional funding from the state while creating more opportunities for students and staff.

Approved charter schools receive operational funding from the state on a per-pupil basis that is equitable to funding of traditional public schools in the local district. The state will provide additional financial resources to the District in the form of basic entitlements, ANB funding, Quality Educator Payments, etc. 

Budget savings from reductions in staffing and other areas are not being used to fund MCPS charter schools. In other words, the district is not making the decision to reduce positions or programs in order to establish charter schools. On the contrary, establishing charter schools is a way to increase funding, create more opportunities for teaching positions and create more opportunities for students. 

Charter schools may actually help bring in more funding for our district and save the jobs of MCPS employees who are currently facing layoffs.

Location

CONNECT Academy is an online-based program for students. It will be based physically at the MCPS Administration Offices.

TEACH Academy will be housed at Jefferson Center (1700 South Avenue W., Missoula MT 59801). Locating the program at a facility that is already in use (as opposed to hosting it at a currently closed school site such as Mt. Jumbo) avoids creating an additional financial burden on the district or on taxpayers.  Opening an unused building would require additional personnel for ongoing maintenance and custodial needs, utility costs, technology costs, etc.