Legislative Notes
SFIC works to strengthen Montana’s educational system
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During Montana’s 69th Legislative Session, HB 153 was enacted directing the School Funding Interim Commission (SFIC) to update laws focusing on our educational structure and funding. The seated SFIC membership consists of six Senators, six Representatives, and eight individuals representing expertise as educators and school administrators, trustees, educational economists and members of the community advocating on behalf of Montana’s roughly 155,000 students in about 400 school districts.
This commission forms decennially, to reassess the educational needs and costs related to Montana’s system of free, quality public elementary and secondary schools. Your commission is charged with conducting a study to evaluate the adequacy and equity of the state’s educational funding system, and to determine whether or not changes to the funding formula should be recommended to the 2027 legislature.
Montana’s Constitution, Article X, Section 1 establishes that the Legislature is required to provide a basic system of free quality public education that guarantees equality of educational opportunity to all. What is basic? What is quality? To what end? At what cost? The reference to “free,” in this case, means taxpayer-funded, the majority of which comes from your property taxes.
The goals of a number of SFIC members are to provide transparency and clarity in educational funding, efficiencies, and simplification of the funding formula. We believe that the Montana taxpayer should better understand the value of their dollars being spent to support our children’s academic achievement. The hurdle we face today hinges on the fact that we continually increase school spending, which might be producing “basic” results, but not necessarily academic success stories. The National Center for Education Statistics shows that increased inflation-adjusted spending, per student nationwide, does not equate to better educational test scores. Translation: this tired-out approach might achieve the definition of “basic and quality” education, but overlooks the importance of true student achievement. In Montana, education spending grew 36 percent since 2013, now nearing about $14,500 per student. In that same timeframe, we’ve experienced a decline in math and reading scores. Depending on your location, your property taxes pay about 38 percent or more of basic school funding, in addition to add-ons such as local school mill levies.
Where, we ask, does student success rank? How can we draw on the hopes, dreams, skills and talents of our children so they can become successful, contributing members of society upon graduation? What kind of compass to higher education and career track should we foster?
We intend to work toward strengthening our educational system for all our Montana students with heightened transparency and taxing simplification. It’s long overdue to examine the one-half of our property taxes that go toward school funding, while ensuring those dollars are managed efficiently and effectively.
Our primary goals as assigned members of the SFIC include reducing government and tax burdens while supporting the success of Montana’s student-centered education system. We are dedicated to improving and preserving the unique way of life in Montana which includes providing the best education possible for our students. It continues to be our privilege to serve our districts, as well as our entire state. Please feel free to reach out to either of us with any questions or concerns.
