This bill clarifies the Montana Legislature's authority to adjust school funding amounts for inflation in ways that differ from the standard calculation currently required by law. It directly affects the state's public school funding system by amending existing statutes to allow lawmakers to set inflationary adjustments above the standard 3% cap or use alternative calculation methods. The key provision permits the legislature to exercise its lawmaking power to provide funding increases beyond the automatic formula based on consumer price index data, while the superintendent of public instruction continues to calculate the standard inflation factor for baseline entitlements. This change ensures that the state retains flexibility in determining school funding adjustments without removing the existing automatic calculation method for baseline amounts.
This bill requires school buses purchased in Montana on or after January 1, 2026, to be equipped with lap-shoulder belts for all passengers. School districts must create and enforce policies requiring belt use and maintain the equipment in working order. The legislation also provides liability protections for districts and drivers if students are injured due to not wearing belts or because another student used a belt improperly, while still allowing claims if a belt is broken or poorly maintained. Districts may request an exemption from the belt requirement if they determine their budget cannot cover the cost of new buses with lap-shoulder belts, subject to a public vote. The bill also updates definitions for school bus capacity and registration fee structures related to buses with lap-shoulder belts.
This bill updates Montana education laws to improve teacher recruitment and retention while expanding support for the Montana School for the Deaf and Blind. It makes educational sign language interpreters eligible for quality educator payments and loan assistance, and broadens the types of schools that can receive incentives for meeting teacher pay benchmarks and participate in the teacher residency program. The bill also allows the Montana School for the Deaf and Blind to transport resident students between home and school using school buses. Additionally, it defines "impacted schools" to include special education cooperatives, the school for the deaf and blind, correctional facilities, reservation schools, and rural schools located more than 20 minutes from larger cities.
This bill creates the Montana B.E.S.T. (Bolstering Educators' Support and Training) program, a statewide initiative administered by the Office of Public Instruction designed to support early-career teachers during their first three years in the profession. The program pairs new teachers with experienced mentors in the same subject or grade level for a one-year structured training period, including ongoing support, regional meetings, and a digital communication platform. Funding includes $2,500 stipends for mentors, $600 stipends for participating teachers (with at least $300 from their school district), and up to 15% of state funds for administrative costs. The bill also requires annual reporting to the education interim committee on program status and impact, with an initial appropriation of $1 million per year starting July 1, 2025.
This bill updates Montana's laws governing how K-12 school districts can share student data with third-party vendors like cloud storage providers and educational software companies. It requires contracts with these vendors to include specific protections, such as ensuring schools retain ownership of student records, prohibiting the use of data for targeted advertising, and mandating clear procedures for parents to review and correct information. The legislation also allows districts to use pre-approved model contracts from privacy-focused groups to simplify compliance and voids contracts that fail to meet these new requirements after a chance to fix them is given.
This bill updates income eligibility rules for Montana's Best Beginnings child care scholarship program, which helps families afford child care services. It requires the state to set income limits at no less than 185% of the federal poverty level or 85% of the state median income, whichever is higher, while also ensuring the maximum income cap does not exceed federal child care grant standards. The legislation includes a $17 million annual appropriation from the general fund to support the program starting July 1, 2025, and takes effect on that same date.
This bill expands access to early literacy intervention programs by allowing school districts to count students in these programs toward their enrollment numbers, which determines state funding. It establishes a temporary grant program to help districts create or expand classroom-based early literacy initiatives and clarifies how students in programs with fewer than 180 instructional hours can be included in funding calculations if they demonstrate proficiency in covered content. The legislation also updates how enrollment is calculated for students participating in jumpstart programs and provides specific rules for counting kindergarten enrollment during transitions to full-time programs. These changes directly affect school districts in Montana and aim to increase resources available for early reading support without altering the core structure of existing education laws.
This bill requires Montana universities to provide free on-campus parking permits to faculty, staff, and students who are veterans or Montana National Guard service members. The legislation mandates that these individuals receive preference when parking permits are issued and must provide proof of their service to qualify. University presidents are authorized to establish specific rules for implementing these parking benefits at each campus unit. The measure directly affects the Montana University System by modifying parking fee policies for eligible service members.
This bill updates Montana's school funding laws by revising the definition of a basic system of free quality public schools and establishing new requirements for how state funding is calculated and distributed. It directly affects Montana public school districts, the state legislature, and all students by mandating that funding formulas account for specific factors such as student needs, open enrollment transfers, and student achievement growth relative to funding increases. Key provisions require the legislature to consider elements like special needs students, American Indian cultural integration, teacher retention, and transparent reporting on how additional funding improves outcomes, while also ensuring the formula includes automatic annual inflation adjustments and equitable distribution across districts. The bill aims to create a more structured and accountable approach to school funding that reflects constitutional requirements for educational equality throughout the state.
This bill establishes a new funding program for Montana school districts to support advanced learning opportunities for students in grades 6 through 12. It creates a role called "advanced opportunity facilitator" who would help connect students with colleges, employers, and community organizations to prepare them for careers and higher education. Districts that develop and implement approved plans for these opportunities can use a portion of their existing quality educator payment funding to pay facilitators and receive additional payments for their work. The bill requires districts to submit applications and annual reports to qualify for funding, with the state board reviewing progress and limiting the number of districts that can receive aid based on available budget.
