Terms Used In Montana Code 20-11-110

• Authorizer: means the commission or a local school board approved as an authorizer by the commission. See Montana Code 20-11-103
• Charter contract: means a fixed-term, renewable contract between a community choice school and an authorizer that outlines the roles, powers, responsibilities, and performance expectations for each party to the contract. See Montana Code 20-11-103
• choice school: means a public school that:

  (a)has autonomy over decisions, including but not limited to matters concerning finance, board governance, personnel, scheduling, curriculum, and instruction;

  (b)is governed by a governing board;

  (c)is established and operated under the terms of a charter contract between the school's governing board and its authorizer;

  (d)is a school in which parents choose to enroll their children;

  (e)is a school that admits students based on capacity and then on the basis of a lottery if more students apply for admission than can be accommodated;

  (f)provides a program of education that may include any or all grades from kindergarten through grade 12 and vocational education programs;

  (g)operates in pursuit of a specific set of educational objectives as defined in its charter contract;

  (h)operates under the oversight of its authorizer in accordance with its charter contract; and

  (i)establishes graduation requirements and has authority to award degrees and issue diplomas. See Montana Code 20-11-103

• Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
• Oversight: Committee review of the activities of a Federal agency or program.
• school: means an institution for the teaching of children that is established and maintained under the laws of the state of Montana at public expense. See Montana Code 20-6-501