MCPS Chief Thane Explains Funding for Out of District Transfers

When a student resides in a Missoula County Public School district, but the parents choose a school out of the district, MCPS loses the revenue from that student.

On Thursday’s KGVO Talk Back show, during his monthly visit, MCPS Superintendent Mark Thane explained the procedure used to equalize the funding.

“If you live outside of Missoula County Public Schools boundaries and wish to attend our school district, we have a process for out of district enrollment,” said Thane. “If in fact you’re accepted as an out-of-district student there is within state statute a formula that we utilize, and those students who live outside of our district actually pay a tuition charge in lieu of local taxes.

Thane singled out Target Range School District and how they deal with out of district transfers.

“My understanding is that with Target Range is that they’re waiving the out-of-district tuition charge,” he said. “What they do is they get the state reimbursement for those students, which is approximately $6,000 per student. If you have capacity in a classroom and you don’t need to add additional staff, you can accept those students and then take the associated revenue.”

Thane, who will be retiring at the end of the 2018-2019 school year is a monthly guest on KGVO’s Talk Back show.