Montana Title 20. Education § 20-7-306. Distribution of secondary K-12 career and vocational/technical education funds

(1) The superintendent of public instruction shall categorize secondary K-12 career and vocational/technical education programs based on weighted factors, including but not limited to:

(2) The superintendent of public instruction shall adjust the weighted factors outlined in subsection (1) as necessary to ensure that the allocations do not exceed the amount appropriated.

(3) Except for other expenditures outlined in subsection (1)(d), funding must be based upon the calculation for secondary K-12 career and vocational/technical education programs of the high school district in the year preceding the year for which funding is requested. Funding for the expenditures referred to in subsection (1)(d) must be based on the calculation for the secondary K-12 career and vocational/technical education programs of the high school district for the 2 years preceding the year for which funding is requested. The funding must be computed for each separate secondary K-12 career and vocational/technical education program.

(4) For secondary career and vocational/technical education programs, the total funding must be distributed to eligible programs based on the factors listed in subsection (1).

(5) The superintendent of public instruction shall annually distribute the funds allocated in this section by November 1. The money received by the high school district must be deposited into the subfund of the miscellaneous programs fund established by 20-9-507 and may be expended only for approved secondary K-12 career and vocational/technical education programs. The expenditure of the money must be reported in the annual trustees' report as required by 20-9-213.

(6) Any increase in the amount distributed to a school district from the biennial state appropriation for secondary K-12 career and vocational/technical education must be used for the expansion and enhancement of career and vocational/technical education programs and may not be used to reduce previous district spending on career and vocational/technical education programs.