Bill > HB628

This bill expands Montana's early literacy targeted intervention program to include math proficiency and redefines the program as "early scholastic literacy," which now encompasses a comprehensive approach to academic competency. The bill allows school districts to offer voluntary intervention programs for children who are below grade-level trajectories in reading or math, including classroom-based, home-based, and jumpstart programs for children from ages 4 to 8. Notably, the bill introduces a new provision that allows districts to optionally enroll "on-target" students (children already at or above proficiency) in these intervention programs, with a limit of one on-target student for every five eligible students. The interventions aim to improve educational outcomes by helping children develop reading and math skills before third grade, with the broader goal of enhancing long-term educational success, workforce development, and potentially reducing future social service and criminal justice costs. School districts will be required to monitor and report on the effectiveness of these programs, tracking student progress through various assessments and providing annual reports to the state superintendent of public instruction. The bill also ensures that students participating in these programs, including both eligible and on-target students, can be counted in enrollment calculations for funding purposes.

Budget and Finance, Education

https://bills.legmt.gov/#/laws/bill/2/LC3014