Welcome, Public Charter Schools!
Newly approved public charter schools will need to notify OPI in order to begin the school-opening process. Below, find a fillable form, including a guidance document, in order to facilitate the school opening process and ensure your school receives the proper funding and programmatic support. If you are looking for the Community Choice School Page click here.
The Montana Board of Public Education is responsible for the applications for public charter schools. Public Charter applications for 2025-2026 school year have closed.
Public Charter Schools
Title 20, Chapter 6, Part 8, (MCA), authorized the establishment of public charter schools in Montana and tasked the Montana Board of Public Education as authorized entity to enter into public charter contracts with a governing board. There are two types of public charter schools – those operating under an existing local school board and those operating as a new school district under a separate governing board.
Interested in opening a Public Charter School?
Here is a link to the Board of Public Education Public Charter School Application. Keep watching for the Board of Public Education to re-open the Public Charter application window. We will continue to work on keeping our page up to date with the most recent information available. Click this link for a list of schools that have been approved so far then click Resolution to Approve to see the list.
Board of Public Education Approved Charter School Information
Upon Board of Public Education approval and a signed contract (see the BPE charter school timeline for specific dates), newly approved charter schools will need to submit school opening documentation to the OPI to begin the school-opening process:
QUESTIONS:
School finance? Contact School Finance
Programs questions? Contact our Chief Program Officer
Assessment questions? Contact our State Assessment Director
Accreditation questions? Contact our Accreditation Team
AIM/Data questions? Contact the AIM unit