HELENA, Mont. (AP) - A proposed bill that would have provided publicly funded preschool in Montana has failed in a state legislative committee.
The Billings Gazette reports that House Education Committee tabled House Bill 755 on a 9-8 vote Wednesday, effectively killing it.
The move is a blow to Gov. Steve Bullock’s ambitions to create a publicly funded preschool system. The proposal was carried by Republican Rep. Eric Moore, of Miles City, who advocated for a school choice-rooted system that included private providers.
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The bill drew opposition from several public education advocacy groups for its inclusion of private providers who would receive public money, and for a potential jurisdictional clash with the Board of Public Education.
Others said that the bill, if not perfect, was the best option for putting preschool funding in place.
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Information from: The Billings Gazette, http://www.billingsgazette.com
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