Title 20, Title 20

Whenever any member of the trustees, superintendent, principal, or clerk of the district is replaced by election or otherwise, the person shall immediately deliver all books, papers, and money pertaining to the position to the person's successor. Any person who refuses to do so o…

Upon request of the county superintendent or the trustees of any school district or community college district, the county attorney shall be their legal adviser and shall prosecute and defend all suits to which such persons, in their capacity as public officials, may be a party; …

In the event there should arise a conflict of interest relating solely to the performance of the official duties of the county attorney and which does not relate to a conflict of interest involving the private employment of the county attorney, the trustees of any school district…

Any person who shall willfully disturb any school or any school meeting shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and, if convicted by a court of competent jurisdiction, shall be fined not less than $10 or more than $100.

Unless otherwise specifically provided by law, any person who violates any provision of this title is guilty of a misdemeanor and if convicted by a court of competent jurisdiction shall be punished by a fine of not less than $20 or more than $200 or by imprisonment in the county …

When a county superintendent of schools finds that a person intends to construct or locate a major industrial facility, as defined in 20-9-407, or intends to open a new strip mine, as defined by 82-4-103, within the county, the superintendent may require such person to file with …

A district court, upon petition of a county, may enforce 20-1-208 with appropriate orders.

(1) A private or parochial high school is not bound by any rule or policy which prohibits the employment or association of part-time assistant athletic instructors with a high school who are not members of the regular faculty of the school, and no such school may be denied the pr…

(1) A school district officer or employee of any school district may not receive payment from any public funds for traveling expenses or other expenses of any sort or kind for attendance at any convention, meeting, or other gathering of public officers except for attendance at a …

(1) Upon the order of the board of trustees, a school officer may destroy records that have met the retention period, as contained in the local government records retention and disposition schedules, and, with written approval of the local government records destruction subcommit…

(1) Subject to the provisions of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, 20 U.S.C. 1232g, as amended, and its implementing regulations at 34 CFR, part 99, and to the provisions of the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act, 20 U.S.C. 1411 through 1420, and its…

(1) The trustees of a school district or the administration of a private school may organize and supervise school crossing guards for a school under their authority. (2) The department of justice shall, in cooperation with the superintendent of public instruction and in accordanc…

(1) An individual may not use a tobacco product, vapor product, marijuana product, or alternative nicotine product in a public school building or on public school property. (2) (a) Subsection (1) does not apply to the use of a tobacco product, vapor product, marijuana product, or…

(1) A postsecondary educational institution may not provide student financial assistance to or enroll as a student an individual who is receiving or will receive student financial assistance unless the individual has complied with the registration requirements of the federal Mili…

The Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children is enacted into law and entered into with all other jurisdictions joining in the compact in the form substantially as follows: ARTICLE I PURPOSE (1) It is the purpose of this compact to remove barriers to edu…

Representatives of the Great Falls school district, the Helena school district, and a member of the military, as specified by the adjutant general, shall provide, singly or jointly, a report in accordance with 5-11-210 to the education interim committee regarding the state's part…

(1) As used in this section, the following definitions apply: (a) "Postsecondary institution" means a 2-year or 4-year public or private college or university located in the state. (b) (i) "Student-athlete rights" means the rights of a student-athlete enrolled in a postsecondary …

The trustees of a school district may not adopt a policy that subjects a student to disciplinary action for behavior that is not considered an unlawful discriminatory practice pursuant to 49-2-307(2), if the behavior does not rise to the definition of bullying as provided in 20-5…

(1) The school fiscal year begins on July 1 and ends on June 30. At least the minimum aggregate hours required in subsection (2) must be conducted during each school fiscal year, except that 1,050 aggregate hours of pupil instruction for graduating seniors may be sufficient. The …

(1) Subject to 20-1-301, 20-1-308, and any applicable collective bargaining agreement covering the employment of affected employees, the trustees of a school district shall set the number of days in a school term, the length of the school day, and the number of school days in a s…

(1) Except as provided in subsections (2) and (3), pupil instruction may not be conducted on Saturday or Sunday. (2) In emergencies, including during reasonable efforts of the trustees to make up aggregate hours of instruction lost during a declaration of emergency by the trustee…

A pupil-instruction-related day is a day of teacher activities devoted to improving the quality of instruction. The activities may include but are not limited to inservice training, attending state meetings of teacher organizations, and conducting parent conferences. A maximum of…

(1) Pupil instruction and pupil-instruction-related days shall not be conducted on the following holidays: (a) New Year's Day (January 1); (b) Memorial Day (last Monday in May); (c) Independence Day (July 4); (d) Labor Day (first Monday in September); (e) Thanksgiving Day (fourth…

(1) All districts shall conduct appropriate exercises on the following commemorative days: (a) Lincoln's Birthday (February 12); (b) Washington's Birthday (February 22); (c) Arbor Day (last Friday in April); (d) Flag Day (June 14); (e) Citizenship Day (September 17); (f) American…

Nothing contained in 1-1-216 defining legal holidays shall be deemed to amend or change the provisions of 20-1-305 and 20-1-306, said sections being hereby expressly declared to define legal holidays for school purposes only.

(1) The trustees of a school district shall provide for a religious instruction released time program under which a pupil must be released from regular school attendance for the purpose of receiving religious instruction upon written request, renewed at least annually, of the pup…

(1) As used in this part, "disaster" means the occurrence or imminent threat of damage, injury, or loss of life or property. Disaster drills must be conducted regularly in accordance with this part. (2) A board of trustees shall identify the local hazards that exist within the bo…

There must be at least eight disaster drills a year in a school. Drills must be held at different hours of the day or evening to avoid distinction between drills and actual disasters.

(1) If a disaster drill is signaled, the signal must be sounded on the disaster alarm system and not on the signal system used to dismiss classes. (2) The recall signal must be separate and distinct from any other signal. The recall signal may be given by distinctive colored flag…

Whenever any of the school authorities determine that an actual fire exists, they shall immediately call the local fire department using the public fire alarm system or such other facilities as are available.

It is the duty of the school authorities to inspect all exit facilities periodically in order to make sure that all stairways, doors, and other exits are in proper condition. School authorities shall cooperate with the local authorities having jurisdiction in conducting disaster …

(1) It is the constitutionally declared policy of this state to recognize the distinct and unique cultural heritage of American Indians and to be committed in its educational goals to the preservation of their cultural heritage. (2) It is the intent of the legislature that in acc…

As used in this part, the following definitions apply: (1) "American Indian studies" means instruction pertaining to the history, traditions, customs, values, beliefs, ethics, language, and contemporary affairs of American Indians, particularly Indian tribal groups in Montana. (2…

(1) Pursuant to this part and 20-9-329 and the definition of basic system of free quality public elementary and secondary schools under 20-9-309, the board of trustees of a school district shall: (a) require that all certified personnel and all students receive instruction in Ame…

This part may be cited as the "Montana Military Service Higher Education Act".

The purpose of this part is to protect the educational rights of members of the reserve armed forces of the United States and of the Montana national guard who are students at a Montana educational institution and whose education is interrupted by mandatory mobilization to active…

As used in this part, the following definitions apply: (1) (a) "Active duty" means federally funded duty performed pursuant to orders issued under Title 10 or Title 32 of the United States Code, state active duty performed pursuant to Article VI, section 13, of the Montana consti…

(1) An eligible student may not be denied admission or readmission to an educational institution on the basis of the student's membership in the reserve component of the United States armed forces or in the Montana national guard. (2) If an eligible student is ordered to active d…

(1) Except as provided in subsection (2): (a) if an eligible student reenrolls at an educational institution within 12 months after returning from the active duty that interrupted the student's previous enrollment at the institution, the student must receive financial credit for …

The commissioner of higher education may develop a policy for action by the board of regents that is consistent with the goals and steps in this part to ensure academic protections for students called to active duty.

(1) The board of public education and the board of regents meeting together as the state board of education shall be responsible for long-range planning and for coordinating and evaluating policies and programs for the public educational systems of the state. The state board of e…

(1) The board of public education and the board of regents may each select a presiding officer from among their appointed members. (2) The executive secretary shall serve as secretary to the board of public education, and the commissioner of higher education serves as secretary t…

(1) The board of public education and the board of regents shall meet at least quarterly. (2) Other meetings of either board may be called by the governor, by the presiding officer, by the secretary, or by four appointed members. (3) The secretary to each board shall mail notice …

Appointed members of the board of public education and the board of regents shall be compensated and receive travel expenses as provided for in 2-15-124 for each day in attendance at board meetings or in the performance of any duty or service as a board member.

The board of public education, the board of regents, and the state board of education each shall: (1) adopt rules consistent with the constitution or laws of the state of Montana necessary for its own government or the proper execution of the powers and duties conferred upon it b…

The board of public education shall: (1) effect an orderly and uniform system for teacher certification and specialist certification and for the issuance of an emergency authorization of employment by adopting the policies prescribed by 20-4-102 and 20-4-111; (2) consider the sus…