House green-lights charter schools

HELENA (AP) – Representatives have given initial approval to a measure allowing charter schools in Montana.

Fifty-three Republican representatives passed House Bill 596 on second reading Friday. Six Republicans joined all 41 Democrats against the measure.

Speaker of the House Rep. Austin Knudsen of Culbertson brought the proposal to fully fund public schools that would operate under a contract with the state instead of being directly overseen by the Board of Public Education.

Forty-three other states have enacted laws allowing charter schools. Opponents say those states' experiments have attracted fraud and allow little state oversight.

Democratic Rep. Moffie Funk of Helena said during debate that charter schools permit preferential admittance policies to receive public education.

With the exception of 2001, charter schools have been proposed every legislative session since at least 1999.