Education (Teachers)

introduced · Montana · Legislature Jan 13, 2025

LC 630: Revise education laws related to a teacher's authority to maintain a positive classroom environment

This bill grants teachers the authority to temporarily remove students from the classroom when behavior disrupts the learning environment for others. It requires school districts to create policies or update employee agreements that outline how teachers can use this authority, while ensuring these rules do not conflict with individualized education plans for students with disabilities. When a student is excluded, the teacher must direct them to school administration, and the student cannot return until a principal or designee communicates a return plan that may include behavioral agreements or meetings with parents and staff. Students who fail to meet the return plan requirements or repeatedly disrupt the classroom face further disciplinary action, including suspension or expulsion.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill empowers teachers to maintain classroom order, protecting educational environment and supporting educators' ability to teach effectively.85% confidence

Sub-Topics School Safety Teachers

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Jan 7, 2025

LC 1206: Clarify the duties the superintendent of public instruction and the board of public education.

This bill clarifies the relationship between Montana's Superintendent of Public Instruction and the Board of Public Education by explicitly requiring the Superintendent to execute directives issued by the Board under its constitutional authority. The legislation amends state law to define the Superintendent's specific duties, which include managing teacher certification, overseeing school budgets, approving school openings and closures, distributing state funding, and coordinating special education services. Directly affected parties are state education officials, school districts, and the Board of Public Education, with the changes intended to reduce ambiguity about the Superintendent's role in implementing Board decisions.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill clarifies and strengthens the Superintendent's duties to manage teacher certification, oversee budgets, and distribute funding, which supports educational administration and operations.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Special Education Teachers

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Mar 17, 2025

LC 2791: Establish retired teacher induction and mentoring program

This bill creates a statewide program in Montana that pairs new teachers with retired educators from the same school district to provide guidance and support. School districts can choose to participate on a case-by-case basis, allowing retired teachers to offer assistance such as classroom observation feedback, administrative help, and orientation to district policies for up to 36 hours over a three-month period. The program authorizes districts to compensate retired teachers on an hourly basis using a rate derived from the district's base pay, with state funding of $100,000 annually available to reimburse districts for these mentoring hours.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill establishes mentoring program pairing new teachers with retired educators to provide guidance, support, and orientation, directly strengthening teacher development and educational quality.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Teachers

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Feb 13, 2025

LC 1849: Revise the quality educator loan forgiveness program to expand eligibility

This bill expands Montana's Quality Educator Loan Assistance Program to include all newly hired quality educators in public schools, with priority given to those working in schools facing educator shortages. Under the new rules, eligible teachers can receive up to three years of state-funded loan repayment assistance, with amounts increasing from $3,000 in the first year to $5,000 by the third year, plus an additional year potentially funded by their school or district. If available funds are insufficient to cover all applicants, the state superintendent will prorate payments, prioritizing educators in impacted schools before distributing remaining funds to others. The changes take effect on July 1, 2025, and apply to applications submitted on or after that date.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill expands loan forgiveness for educators, increases funding for teachers, and improves recruitment in shortage areas.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Financial Aid Teachers

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Feb 19, 2025

LC 2027: Require school district personnel to inform board of trustees of reductions in force

This bill requires school districts in Montana to provide written notice to their board of trustees when they reduce teaching staff due to insufficient funding. The superintendent or principal must submit this notice, which the board must then place on the agenda for their next meeting and allow time for public comment. The law does not apply to situations where a teacher's contract is not renewed for reasons other than funding shortages. It takes effect on July 1, 2025.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesBill requires disclosure of funding cuts but does not address the root cause of budget constraints, potentially limiting fiscal management transparency without solving underlying budget issues75% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill requires transparency about funding cuts affecting teachers, protecting educators' interests and ensuring accountability in school district financial decisions.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Teachers

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died · Montana · House May 20, 2025

HB 837: Establish retired teacher induction and mentoring program

HB 837 establishes a statewide Retired Teacher Induction and Mentoring Program to support new teachers by pairing them with retired teachers from the same school district. School districts can optionally participate, matching a new teacher with a former teacher for up to three months of guidance. Participating districts compensate retired teachers hourly for up to 36 hours, and the Office of Public Instruction then reimburses these costs. The program, funded by an annual $100,000 state appropriation, aims to provide new teachers with support such as classroom feedback, administrative assistance, and help with district policies.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill explicitly funds a new program via $100,000 state appropriation, directly advancing state budget allocation for education initiatives.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill establishes state-funded program pairing new teachers with retired mentors, reimbursing districts for costs. Directly supports teacher development and retention, a core education policy objective.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Teachers

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signed · Montana · House May 19, 2025

HB 151: Revise educational laws pertaining to recruitment and retention and MSDB

HB 151 revises education laws related to recruitment, retention, and the Montana School for the Deaf and Blind. The bill makes educational sign language interpreters eligible for the quality educator payment and loan assistance program. It also expands the types of educational entities that can receive incentives for meeting starting teacher pay benchmarks and participate in the teacher residency program. Finally, it allows the Montana School for the Deaf and Blind to transport resident students between their homes and the school using a school bus.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMakes sign language interpreters eligible for educator payments, expands teacher pay incentives, and improves accessibility for deaf/blind students at MSDB.95% confidence

Sub-Topics School Transportation Teachers

signed · Montana · House May 5, 2025

HB 595: Revise qualifications for teachers of adult basic education or high school equivalency programs at state correctional institutions

HB 595 establishes a Montana correctional education program within the Department of Corrections, directly affecting inmates in state prisons by providing opportunities for high school equivalency and adult basic education. The bill outlines specific qualifications for instructors in these programs, requiring them to be at least 18 years old, of good moral character, and possess an associate degree, bachelor's degree, a teaching certificate from another state, or prior teaching experience. It explicitly states that the Department of Corrections cannot require these instructors to hold a Montana teacher certificate. The Department of Corrections is authorized to adopt policies determining which inmates are eligible to participate.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeEstablishes prison education program to improve inmate rehabilitation and reduce recidivism through structured educational opportunities in correctional facilities.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates correctional education program with qualified instructors, expanding access to high school equivalency for inmates, directly advancing educational access within the topic.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Teachers

died · Montana · Senate May 23, 2025

SB 138: Revise education laws related to a teacher's authority to maintain a positive classroom environment

SB 138 requires Montana school districts with at least a half-time principal to formally include in policies or teacher agreements the authority for educators to maintain a positive classroom environment and temporarily exclude disruptive students for up to 24 hours. Teachers must direct excluded students to a principal or designee, and students cannot return until a return plan - developed by the principal and potentially involving behavioral contracts, parent communication, or meetings - is provided to the teacher. The bill explicitly requires all provisions to comply with federal disability laws (IDEA, ADA, Section 504) and the Family Educational Rights Act. This bill, which died in the Senate on May 23, 2025, would have applied to school years starting July 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRequires formal teacher authority to temporarily exclude disruptive students with return plans, strengthening classroom management tools for educators.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Teachers

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vetoed · Montana · House Jun 19, 2025

HB 340: Establish Montana's BEST program to bolster educator support and training

HB 340 would have created Montana's BEST (Bolstering Educators' Support and Training) program to support teachers in their first three years of teaching. It required pairing new teachers with experienced mentors, providing $2,500 stipends for mentors and $600 stipends for new teachers (with $300 contributed by their school district), and allocating $1 million annually from state funds. The program aimed to improve teacher retention and student outcomes through structured training, regional gatherings, and data collection, with special focus on "impacted schools" as defined in existing law. The bill was vetoed by the Governor on June 19, 2025, so it did not become law.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill allocates $1 million annually from state funds for educator support program, directly increasing public education funding under appropriations.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationProvides $1M annual funding for teacher mentorship stipends ($2.5K mentors, $600 new teachers) to improve retention and outcomes95% confidence

Sub-Topics Teachers

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