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State Entitlement Payments to Schools

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Document Location: http:// www.opi.mt.gov /SchoolFinance/stpaymts2.html
Last Modified: 8/5/08
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For Assistance Contact:
Janelle Graybeal Fiscal Officer Supervisor
(406) 444-3249
 
Kathleen Wanner, Financial Specialist
(406) 444-9852

About State Payments to Schools and Cooperatives

State Payments to Schools
The Montana Office of Public Instruction administers the distribution of over $725 million of state equalization aid including funding for special education, school facilities payments, and guaranteed tax base aid (GTB) to Montana's 430 public school districts. Programs funded by this division include:

Direct State Aid - entitlement to all districts based on average number belonging (ANB)

State Special Education Funding (AKA "Special Ed Allowable Cost Funding) - block grant to all school districts providing a special education program, based on average number belonging (ANB) and provides entitlements to 21 formal special education cooperatives for travel and administration of cooperative programs

Quality Educator Payment – entitlements to all school districts and special education cooperatives based on a $3,042 payment for full-time equivalent licensed educators and other eligible professionals

At-Risk Student Payment – entitlement allocated in the same manner as the Federal Title I monies are allocated

American Indian Achievement Gap Payment – $200 payment for each American Indian student enrolled in the district

Indian Education for All Payment – entitlement funded at $20.40 per ANB with a minimum $100 payment provided to districts to implement the provisions of the Montana constitution (Article X, section 1(2)) and the statutory requirements for the recognition of American Indian cultural heritage (MCA 20-1-501)

Guaranteed Tax Base Aid (GTB)

  • General Fund (weighted) GTB - subsidy per BASE mill levied for district general fund
  • County Retirement GTB - subsidy per county ANB per mill levied for countywide elementary and high school retirement funds paid to eligible counties

School Facilities Acquisition Program (AKA "Debt Service GTB") - paid to eligible school districts based on a formula that pays either an amount per student or a subsidy per mill for bond payments

School Block Grants - entitlement to school districts, replacing non-levy revenues that had been collected and redistributed locally before HB 124 in 2001-02

State Transportation Aid - payments to school districts for bus route mileage and mileage reimbursement for individual transportation contracts. Counties match the state transportation aid payments