Montana Code Annotated 2023

TITLE 20. EDUCATION

CHAPTER 6. SCHOOL DISTRICTS

Part 7. K-12 School Districts

K-12 School Districts Required -- Definition -- Procedure For Creation -- Exception

20-6-701. K-12 school districts required -- definition -- procedure for creation -- exception. (1) Except as provided in subsection (4), each elementary district with the same district boundaries as a high school district shall attach to the high school district for the purpose of establishing a K-12 school district.

(2) For the purposes of this title, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, "K-12 school district" means a high school district with an elementary district that has been attached to the high school district under the procedures provided in this section, with the high school district remaining an organized district under the provisions of 20-6-101 and other provisions of law and the elementary district becoming an inactive district under the provisions of 20-6-101.

(3) The attachment of an elementary district to a high school district to form a K-12 school district must be conducted under the following procedure:

(a) The trustees of each district shall pass a resolution requesting the county superintendent to order an attachment involving their districts.

(b) When the county superintendent receives a resolution from each of the districts, the county superintendent shall, within 10 days after receipt of the last resolution, order the attachment of the elementary district to the high school district to take effect on July 1 of the ensuing school fiscal year. Within 30 days of the order, the county superintendent shall send a copy of the order to the board of county commissioners, the trustees of the districts included in the attachment order, and the superintendent of public instruction.

(4) This section does not apply to a school district receiving federal impact aid funding, as provided in 20 U.S.C. 7701, et seq., if creation or continuation of a K-12 district has resulted in or will result in the loss of federal impact aid funding.

History: En. Sec. 1, Ch. 555, L. 1991; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 194, L. 1993; amd. Sec. 12, Ch. 22, L. 1997; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 95, L. 1997.