Education (Curriculum)

died · Montana · Legislature May 24, 2025

LC 1236: Revise laws to add history and civics classes in high school as a requirement for graduation

This bill (LC 1236) proposed requiring all high schools to add history and civics courses as a graduation requirement. It would have directly affected high school students by mandating these subjects for graduation, replacing or supplementing current course requirements. The bill was drafted in 2024 but was ultimately "died in process" in May 2025, meaning it did not advance to a vote or become law. It remains a proposed measure with no current legislative status.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates history/civics as graduation requirement, strengthening curriculum standards and educational content for students.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum K-12 Education

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died · Montana · Legislature May 26, 2025

LC 1379: Expand career technical education to include middle school students

This bill (LC 1379) proposed expanding career technical education (CTE) programs to include middle school students, aiming to provide early exposure to career-focused learning. It would have directly affected middle school students by adding CTE pathways to their curriculum, potentially connecting them to future career opportunities. However, the bill was drafted, placed on hold, and ultimately died in the legislative process during the 2025 session without becoming law.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill explicitly expands CTE curriculum to middle schools, enhancing student career exposure and educational access per topic description.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Career & Technical Education Curriculum

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died · Montana · Legislature May 27, 2025

LC 3313: Generally revise K-12 curriculum to include teaching and memorization of biblical proverbs

This bill (LC 3313) proposed revising K-12 public school curricula to require teaching and memorization of biblical proverbs. It would directly affect students and teachers in public schools within the state by mandating specific content in classroom instruction. The bill died in committee on May 27, 2025, meaning it did not advance to become law. It aimed to integrate religious text memorization into standard educational requirements.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationMandates religious curriculum content, restricting academic freedom in public schools per bill's requirement for biblical proverbs memorization95% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum

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died · Montana · Senate May 23, 2025

SB 521: Directing DPHHS and OPI to develop a plan to expand mental health education to all schools in the state

SB 521 directs Montana's Department of Public Health and Human Services and Office of Public Instruction to create a plan expanding mental health education to all public schools. The plan must include specific elements like curriculum design, funding support strategies, data collection methods, and cost estimates for addressing issues like bullying, suicide, and substance use. All public schools in Montana would be directly affected if the plan is implemented. The bill requires progress reports by September 2025 and a final plan by May 2026. It mandates the development of a roadmap but does not provide immediate funding or require schools to adopt the program.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands mental health education curriculum in all schools, requiring funding strategies and student support programs.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates expansion of mental health education in schools, directly supporting mental health services through curriculum development and funding strategies as required by the legislation.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum School Safety Student Health Mental Health Public Health

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died · Montana · House May 22, 2025

HB 262: Establish state policy on evidence-based reading instruction

HB 262 sought to establish a state policy requiring early literacy instruction in public schools to be evidence-based and scientifically researched. The bill would have prohibited certain teaching methods, such as those relying on meaning drawn from context, visual cues, or memory, specifically disallowing the three-cueing system. Instead, it mandated that instruction include specific components like phonics, phonemic awareness, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. This policy was intended to apply to public schools across the state, with an effective date of July 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates evidence-based reading curriculum, banning non-scientific methods like three-cueing system. Strengthens literacy instruction standards in K-12 schools.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum Libraries School Safety

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vetoed · Montana · House May 13, 2025

HB 462: Encourage academic excellence through high-quality instructional materials

HB 462 aimed to enhance academic excellence by revising education laws related to curriculum and instruction. It would have established a process for the Superintendent of Public Instruction, in collaboration with a committee and an external nonprofit partner, to identify and recommend high-quality instructional materials (HQIM) during content standard revisions. Contingent on legislative funding, the bill would have provided reduced-cost access to these recommended HQIM and aligned professional development for school districts choosing to adopt them. This initiative sought to support teachers and improve curriculum for students across the state.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill establishes process to identify/recommend high-quality instructional materials (HQIM) and provides reduced-cost access, directly enhancing curriculum quality and educational access per topic description.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum

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signed · Montana · House May 5, 2025

HB 471: Revise education laws related to human sexuality and identity instruction

HB 471 revises education laws concerning human sexuality and identity instruction in public schools, impacting students, parents, and school districts. The bill requires written parental or guardian permission for a child to attend "identity instruction" and allows parents to withdraw their child from "human sexuality instruction" as an excused absence. It mandates that schools provide advance notice to parents about these instructions and make all related curriculum materials publicly available for inspection. Additionally, the bill prohibits entities that provide abortion services from offering or furnishing materials for human sexuality or sexually transmitted disease instruction to students or personnel.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationRequires parental consent for identity/sexuality instruction, restricting curriculum content and academic freedom in schools per bill's explicit mandates.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum