20-7-334. Advancing agricultural education in Montana program account. (1) There is an advancing agricultural education in Montana program account in the state special revenue fund provided for in 17-2-102.

(2) Money in the account and money appropriated by the legislature for the purpose of this section must be used by the office of public instruction for addressing the stability of and making improvements to Montana's agricultural education programs. The office of public instruction shall adopt rules to implement the national quality program standards.

(3) (a) Each agricultural education program in the state that completes the national quality program standard evaluation as adopted by rule and submits a plan of improvement to the office of public instruction's agricultural education specialist may receive a payment of $1,000 prorated per full-time equivalent teacher endorsed in agricultural education who teaches approved agricultural education courses through the local agricultural education program.

(b) Each agricultural education program in the state that submits a detailed budget to increase the quality of its agricultural education program based on the plan of improvement may receive a payment of up to $1,000 prorated per full-time equivalent teacher endorsed in agricultural education who teaches approved agricultural education courses through the local agricultural education program.

(c) Each school that adds agricultural education to its curriculum and recruits and retains an endorsed agricultural education teacher must receive a payment of up to $7,500. A school with an existing agricultural education program is eligible for an additional payment of up to $7,500 each time the school expands the program's teaching staff by adding a full-time equivalent teacher endorsed in agricultural education.

(d) Program administrators in Bozeman and Helena must receive a total of $20,000 annually for the costs of providing a minimum of one onsite visit each year to each participating school.