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Quality Schools Facility and Technology Grants (Project Grants)

Project Grant Information

The Department of Commerce previously established June 29, 2012 as the deadline to submit applications for projects under the Quality Schools Grant Program.  As you know, projects recommended for funding by the Governor are included in HB 15 of each legislative session.  However, because of circumstances beyond the control of the department, the deadline for the submission of project applications has been suspended.

 
The case of PPL Montana, LLC v. State of Montana was recently heard and decided by the United States Supreme Court, 132 S. Ct. 1215 (2012).  The Court’s decision affects the current funding source for the Quality Schools Grant Program.  Specifically, the major component of funding for HB 15 is rent paid by the owners of hydroelectric facilities located on navigable waterways within Montana, including facilities owned by PPL Montana.  The United States Supreme Court ruled that many of PPL Montana’s hydroelectric facilities are located on commercially non-navigable waterways, and remanded the case to the Montana Supreme Court for further proceedings to determine the navigability of other waterways upon which hydroelectric facilities are located. 
 
As a result of this decision and the pending Montana Supreme Court proceedings, the Quality Schools Grant Program application deadline is suspended until further notice. If additional grant funding sources are identified by the department, the application process will be reopened with at least 60 days available for public school districts to submit their applications. In the meantime, please do not hesitate to contact Kelly Casillas, Administrator, at (406) 841-2770.

Quality Schools grants are available on a competitive basis for construction of a new school; major repairs or deferred maintenance to an existing school; major improvements or enhancements to an existing school; or information technology infrastructure, including installations, upgrades, or improvements, to an existing school. The Department will review and rank grant applications and prepare a list of recommended projects based on six statutory priorities:

1) Projects that solve urgent and serious public health or safety problems or that enable public school districts to meet state or federal health or safety standards;
2) Projects that provide improvements necessary to bring school facilities up to current local, state, and federal codes and standards;
3) Projects that enhance a public school district's ability to offer specific services related to the requirements of the accreditation standards provided for in 20-7-111;
4) Projects that provide long-term, cost-effective benefits through energy-efficient design;
5) Projects that incorporate long-term, cost-effective benefits to school facilities, including the technology needs of school facilities; and
6) Projects that enhance educational opportunities for students.

After prioritizing the project applications as set forth above, the Department will consider five additional attributes of each proposed project in ranking the projects recommended for funding by the Legislature:

1) The need for financial assistance;
2) The fiscal capacity of the public school district to meet grant conditions required by the Department;
3) Past efforts to ensure sound, effective, long-term planning and management of the school facility and attempts to address school facility needs with local resources;
4) The ability to obtain funds from sources other than the funds provided by the Quality Schools Grant Program; and
5) The importance of the project and support for the project from the community.

Finally, the Department of Commerce may adjust its final rankings based on the educationally relevant factors established in Section 20-9-309, MCA:

Educationally Relevant Factors:

(a) The number of students in a district;
(b) The needs of isolated schools with low population density;
(c) The needs of urban schools with high population density;
(d) The needs of students with special needs, such as a child with a disability, an at-risk student, a student with limited English proficiency, a child who is qualified for services under 29 U.S.C. 794, and gifted and talented children;
(e) The needs of American Indian students; and
(f) The ability of school districts to attract and retain qualified educators and other personnel.

The Department will prepare a report recommending projects to be funded, including the amount of grant assistance for each project, and submit these recommendations to the Governor. The Governor will then review the recommendations and submit the recommendations to the Legislature. The Legislature will make the final decisions and necessary appropriations.

Please contact the Quality Schools team if you have questions:

Quality Schools Grant Program
301 S. Park
P.O. Box 200523
Helena, MT 59620-0523
(p): 406-841-2770

2015 Biennium Project Documents

Exhibit Documents:

2013 Biennium Project Grants

Governor Schweitzer signed HB 15 into law on May 5, 2011, appropriating $11,069,265 to the Department of Commerce for project grants for 30 school districts in the 2013 Biennium. 

2013 Biennium Project Grant Awards
2013 Biennium Score Sheets
2011 Legislative Report

 

2013 Biennium Project Documents