SB 35: Clarify enrollment counts for early literacy jumpstart program - Montana

SB0035_1(9).pdf → SB0035_X.pdf · 4 edits

MODERATE

This bill clarifies how Montana counts students in early literacy programs for funding purposes and updates reporting requirements. It ensures that students in Jumpstart programs are counted as quarter-time enrollment without needing special attendance agreements, while also mandating detailed annual reports on student progress and program effectiveness.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope of ANB (Average Number Belonging) calculations to explicitly include Jumpstart program participants as quarter-time enrollment and removes the requirement for out-of-district attendance agreements for these specific students.

ELIGIBILITY

Students in Jumpstart programs provided by non-resident districts are now counted as quarter-time enrollment and are exempt from out-of-district attendance agreements and tuition laws.

REQUIREMENT

Superintendents must now collaborate with trustees to produce annual reports containing specific data points, including student performance metrics, longitudinal proficiency data, and long-term outcomes like graduation and postsecondary rates.

Added a requirement for the superintendent to report to the education interim committees annually by September 1 with a comparison analysis of participating versus non-participating schools.

DEFINITION

Updated the legal definition of ANB calculation to specify exact hour thresholds (e.g., 180-359 hours equals quarter-time) and rules for including programs with fewer than 180 hours.

SB0035_1(8).pdf → SB0035_1(9).pdf · 4 edits

MODERATE

This bill clarifies how children participating in Early Literacy Jumpstart programs are counted for school funding purposes. It ensures these students are included in enrollment calculations regardless of whether they attend the program in their home district or a different district, and it removes tuition requirements for out-of-district participants. The bill also updates reporting requirements to include more detailed data on student progress and long-term outcomes.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope of funding eligibility to include Jumpstart program participants in non-resident school districts without requiring an out-of-district attendance agreement, and it broadens the data reporting requirements for the Superintendent of Public Instruction.

ELIGIBILITY

Jumpstart program participants in a non-resident school district no longer require an out-of-district attendance agreement and are not subject to tuition laws.

FISCAL

Jumpstart program participants in non-resident districts are now counted as quarter-time enrollment for Average Number Belonging (ANB) funding calculations.

REQUIREMENT

Annual reports to the Superintendent must now include detailed anonymized data on student progress, evaluation methodologies, and long-term outcomes like graduation rates.

The Superintendent must now report to the Education Interim Budget Committee in addition to the Education Interim Committee.

SB0035_1(7).pdf → SB0035_1(8).pdf · 4 edits

MODERATE

This bill clarifies how children participating in Early Literacy Jumpstart programs are counted for school funding purposes. It ensures these students are included in enrollment numbers even when they attend a school district other than their resident district, without requiring special attendance agreements. The changes also update reporting requirements to better track program effectiveness.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope of funding eligibility to include Jumpstart program participants in non-resident districts and clarifies that these enrollments count as quarter-time for funding calculations.

SCOPE

Children in Jumpstart programs at non-resident districts are now explicitly included in enrollment counts for Average Number Belonging (ANB) funding calculations.

Jumpstart program participants in non-resident districts are exempt from needing an out-of-district attendance agreement and are not subject to tuition laws.

REQUIREMENT

Updated reporting requirements to include specific data on student progress, assessment methodologies, and long-term outcomes like graduation rates.

DEFINITION

Clarified that Jumpstart programs (180-359 hours) count as quarter-time enrollment for funding purposes.

LC0284.pdf → SB0035_1.pdf · 1 edit

MINOR

The bill was renumbered from LC 0284 to SB 35.1 and the sponsor was updated to D. Emrich. The substantive text of the legislation, including reporting requirements and definitions, remains unchanged.

TECHNICAL

The bill number was changed from LC 0284 to SB 35.1, and the sponsor name was updated to D. Emrich.

Clarify enrollment counts for early literacy jumpstart program

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