Education (Early Childhood)

introduced · Montana · Legislature Jan 28, 2025

LC 1779: Revise laws regarding targeted early numeracy intervention

This bill expands Montana's early childhood education system by adding numeracy, or early math skills, to the existing targeted intervention programs that previously focused only on literacy. It allows schools greater flexibility in evaluating children for these intervention programs and updates reporting requirements to better track outcomes. The legislation directly affects school districts, educators, and families by broadening the scope of support available for young learners who struggle with foundational academic skills.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill expands early childhood education by adding numeracy to intervention programs, increasing support for young learners and educational access.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Early Childhood

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Jan 8, 2025

LC 1786: Provide state funding for preschool children with disabilities

This bill amends Montana's school funding law to allow state financial support for preschool children with disabilities by including them in the Average Number Belonging (ANB) calculations used to determine school district funding. Previously, only preschool programs created at the discretion of school trustees were excluded from these calculations, which meant children with disabilities receiving mandatory special education services had no mechanism for state funding. The key provision adds a new clause to the existing statute that permits counting preschool children with disabilities in ANB based on their aggregate hours of pupil instruction, aligning their eligibility with other special education students. This change directly affects school districts by creating a funding pathway for the special education programs they are already required to provide for three- and four-year-old children with disabilities.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill expands state funding for preschool children with disabilities by including them in school funding calculations, enhancing educational access and financial support for special education services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Early Childhood School Funding Special Education

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died · Montana · House May 20, 2025

HB 945: Create the early childhood education and child care infrastructure grant program

HB 945 aimed to establish the Early Childhood Education and Child Care Infrastructure Grant Program in Montana. This program would have provided up to $10 million in grants to licensed child care facilities and school districts across the state. The grants were intended to fund capital expenses, such as property acquisition, construction, renovation, and equipment purchases, to create new or expand existing child care programs. Recipients of grants $50,000 or more would have been required to provide matching funds or in-kind contributions. The bill also set limits on the maximum funding per county and per individual project.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationProvides $10M in grants for early childhood education infrastructure, expanding access and funding for child care programs in schools.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Early Childhood

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died · Montana · Senate May 23, 2025

SB 565: Creating the Montana endowment for early childhood and related structure

SB 565 creates a permanent Montana Endowment for Early Childhood, funded by quarterly state transfers and fees from renewed childcare facility licenses. It establishes a 7-member board (including state agency staff and community representatives) to manage the endowment and allocate funds from the Montana Early Childhood Account. The bill directs funds toward grants for childcare workforce development, quality improvements (like safety upgrades), affordability programs (including subsidies), and emergency assistance for childcare providers. These funds directly support early childhood programs, providers, and families accessing childcare services across Montana.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill creates permanent endowment funding childcare workforce development, quality improvements, and affordability subsidies, directly expanding early childhood educational access and support.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentFunds childcare workforce development and safety upgrades, directly advancing worker conditions in early childhood sector per bill's allocation priorities.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Early Childhood Workforce Development

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signed · Montana · House May 19, 2025

HB 168: Provide state funding for preschool children with disabilities

HB 168 revises state school funding laws to include 3- and 4-year-old children with disabilities in a school district's annual number belonging (ANB) calculations. This change enables school districts to receive state financial support for providing special education services to these preschool-aged children. Previously, these children were not included in ANB counts, meaning there was no state funding mechanism for their education, despite districts being obligated to provide these services. The bill amends Section 20-9-311, MCA, to allow their inclusion based on aggregate hours of pupil instruction.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationAdds state funding for preschool special education by including disabled children in ANB calculations, directly addressing school finance needs for K-12 education access.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Early Childhood School Funding Special Education

introduced · Montana · Legislature Mar 29, 2025

LC 1689: Create the early childhood education and child care infrastructure grant program

This bill creates a $10 million grant program to help Montana child care facilities and school districts build or expand early childhood education centers. It provides one-time funding for construction, renovation, equipment, and facility upgrades, requiring grantees to match grant funds with private contributions (at least $1 for every $1 received). The program prioritizes rural areas and locations with high unmet child care demand, as highlighted in the bill’s context. Grants are limited to capital expenses and must align with safety standards, with administrative costs capped at 20% of the total appropriation.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill creates $10M state appropriation for early childhood education infrastructure grants, directly increasing public funding for essential services as per Appropriations subject.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationProvides $10M grants for early childhood education infrastructure, prioritizing rural areas and high-demand locations, directly advancing educational access and facility funding.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Early Childhood

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signed · Montana · Senate Apr 17, 2025

SB 35: Clarify enrollment counts for early literacy jumpstart program

This bill clarifies how school districts count enrollment for funding purposes when children participate in early literacy jumpstart programs. It specifies that children in these programs are counted as quarter-time enrollment for a district's Average Number Belonging (ANB) calculation, which determines state funding. The bill also states that if a child attends a jumpstart program in a district other than their resident district, no out-of-district attendance agreement or tuition is required. Additionally, it outlines reporting requirements for districts on program efficacy and mandates the superintendent of public instruction to monitor and report on these interventions.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesClarifies enrollment counts for state funding allocation in education programs, ensuring proper budget distribution for early literacy initiatives without altering tax policies.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationClarifies funding calculation for early literacy programs, ensuring proper state funding allocation without requiring out-of-district tuition, advancing educational access and program participation.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Early Childhood School Funding

died · Montana · House May 20, 2025

HB 654: Increase access to early literacy targeted intervention programs

HB 654 aims to support and expand early literacy targeted intervention programs within school districts. The bill clarifies how school districts can count students participating in these programs, including those offered in partnership with community organizations, for Average Number Belonging (ANB) calculations, which affects state funding. It also proposes creating a temporary grant program to help districts establish or expand classroom-based early literacy intervention initiatives.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill creates temporary grant program for early literacy interventions, directly impacting state funding allocation through ANB calculations and school finance appropriations.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill creates temporary grants to expand early literacy programs and clarifies ANB calculations to increase state funding for participating students, directly advancing educational access and school funding.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Early Childhood Libraries School Funding

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