State lawmakers zero in on education funding, OPI spending

Montana lawmakers this month have trained a critical eye on funding for public schools, proposing new enhancements to the state’s education funding formula and raising concerns about the handling of federal school funds by Montana’s statewide education agency.

The latter initially arose last week when state auditors in Helena presented legislators with a scathing report questioning the Montana Office of Public Instruction’s handling of $67.5 million in federal money for Montana schools. Auditors specifically noted that the agency had not maintained sufficient documentation for federal programs...