SAM’s Core Purpose is supporting over 1000 visionary leaders united in providing, advocating, and creating education excellence for Montana students!

Here are the SAM Legislative Priorities that were identified by our Delegate Assembly at our annual meeting in June 2024.

1. School Funding - support for the education partners proposal to modify the current funding formula as well as identifying priorities for the decennial study to occur between 2025 and 2027.
2. Recruitment and Retention of Staff - creating a unified effort among the education partners. For example: supporting opportunities for grow-your-own programs, teacher residency programs and alternative pathways to licensure.
3. Oppose Vouchers - oppose any initiative that seeks to redirect money from public schools to private programs through an education voucher or education savings account.  Oppose Privatization - oppose initiatives that seek to redirect public funds towards private school programs.
4. Special Education Issues

1. Fully fund IDEA and increase state contribution.
2. Continue to allow flexibility of funds to support special education.
3. Support for funding for Special Education cooperatives and encourage a process to examine boundaries.

5. Technology - support protections for student data privacy by exploring solutions to streamline the process of verifying third party vendors.
6. Homeschool - seek changes to provide increased accountability and oversight for home school students.