Montana Code Annotated
Part 4. Special Education for Exceptional Children
20-7-435. Funding of educational programs at in-state children's psychiatric hospitals and in-state residential treatment programs for eligible children

20-7-435. Funding of educational programs at in-state children's psychiatric hospitals and in-state residential treatment programs for eligible children. (1) (a) It is the intent of the legislature that eligible children in in-state children's psychiatric hospitals and residential treatment facilities be provided with an appropriate educational opportunity in a cost-effective manner.
(b) As used in this section, "appropriate educational opportunity" means:
(i) for an eligible child without a disability:
(A) if provided by a nonpublic school, an education program provided in accordance with the requirements for a nonpublic school under the provisions of 20-5-109; and
(B) if provided by a public school, an education program consistent with accreditation standards provided for in 20-7-111; and
(ii) for an eligible child with a disability, a free appropriate public education consistent with state standards for the provision of special education and related services.
(2) From appropriations provided for the purposes of this section, the superintendent of public instruction may contract with an in-state children's psychiatric hospital or residential treatment facility for provision of an educational program for an eligible child in the hospital or treatment facility.
(3) (a) Whenever the superintendent of public instruction contracts with an in-state children's psychiatric hospital or residential treatment facility for provision of an educational program for an eligible child in the children's psychiatric hospital or residential treatment facility, the superintendent of public instruction shall establish a daily rate per eligible child for each hospital or facility that reflects actual documented costs of providing an appropriate educational opportunity at that hospital or facility and that excludes the cost of services that are eligible for reimbursement under any provision of state or federal law or an insurance policy not to exceed 100% of the tuition per-ANB amount as defined in 20-5-323 divided by 180.
(b) For each eligible child, the superintendent of public instruction shall pay the hospital or treatment facility the daily rate under subsection (3)(a).
(c) For each eligible child, the eligible child's school district of residence shall pay the hospital or treatment facility a daily rate of 40% of the tuition per-ANB amount as defined in 20-5-323 divided by 180 in a manner prescribed by the superintendent of public instruction. The district of residence shall finance the tuition amount from the levy authorized to support the district tuition fund or from the district's general fund or any other legally available fund in the discretion of the trustees.
(d) An eligible child whose appropriate educational opportunity is provided under subsection (5)(a) or (5)(b) of this section may not receive funding under this subsection (3).
(4) A supplemental education fee or tuition, beyond those authorized under this section, may not be charged for an eligible child who receives an education under contract with an in-state children's psychiatric hospital or residential treatment facility under subsection (3) or as provided under subsection (5).
(5) If a children's psychiatric hospital or residential treatment facility fails to provide an appropriate educational opportunity for an eligible child at the children's psychiatric hospital or residential treatment facility or fails to negotiate a contract under the provisions of subsection (2), the superintendent of public instruction shall, from appropriations provided for the purposes of this section, choose either of the following two options:
(a) provide for an appropriate educational opportunity for the eligible child utilizing qualified specialists who are employees of the office of public instruction or under contract with the office of public instruction for the purposes of this section. The eligible child's district of residence shall reimburse the office of public instruction at the daily rate established in subsection (3)(c). The district of residence may finance the reimbursement from the levy authorized to support the district tuition fund.
(b) negotiate with the school district in which the children's psychiatric hospital or residential treatment facility is located for the supervision and implementation of an appropriate educational opportunity for eligible children attending the children's psychiatric hospital or residential treatment facility. The amount to be paid to the district of attendance by the office of public instruction and the amount to be paid by the eligible child's district of residence are determined as provided in 20-5-323 and 20-5-324 for out-of-district attendance agreements approved under 20-5-321(1)(d) and (1)(e).
(6) Funds provided to a district under this section, including funds received under the provisions of 20-7-420:
(a) must be deposited in the miscellaneous programs fund of the district that provides the education program for an eligible child, regardless of the age or grade placement of the child who is served under a negotiated contract; and
(b) are not subject to the budget limitations in 20-9-308.
(7) The superintendent of public instruction may distribute funds appropriated for contracts with in-state children's psychiatric hospitals or residential treatment facilities under subsection (2) to public school districts for the purpose of supporting educational programs for children with significant behavioral or physical needs.
History: En. Sec. 9, Ch. 765, L. 1991; amd. Sec. 4, Ch. 375, L. 1993; amd. Sec. 51, Ch. 633, L. 1993; amd. Sec. 99(4), Ch. 51, L. 1999; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 142, L. 2019; amd. Sec. 5, Ch. 371, L. 2021.

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