Provide funding to school districts for English language learners

Added specific focus on expanding language instruction programs and implementing schoolwide/systemwide restructuring activities.

Created a new eligibility tier for teachers assigned to high-poverty schools (eligible for community eligibility provision) or impacted schools.

Increased the maximum annual stipend for eligible teachers from $500 to $1,000 for those meeting the new high-poverty or impacted school criteria.

Updated state contribution formulas to reflect the new higher maximum stipend amounts, increasing the maximum state contribution from $350 to $800.

Clarified that the state must provide the full funding obligation and cannot require school districts to pay matching funds if state appropriations are insufficient.

Stipend amounts were changed from fixed dollar values (e.g., $500, $1,000) to percentage-based calculations tied to the state's Quality Educator Payment amounts (50% and 85% of the maximum payment).

The state's matching contribution formula was altered to be a percentage of the total stipend amount rather than a fixed dollar match per dollar contributed by the district.

Eligibility for the higher-tier stipend was expanded to include teachers assigned to schools in high-poverty areas or impacted schools, in addition to those with specific language proficiency certificates.

The required professional development activities were expanded to include developing new instructional programs and implementing system-wide programs to restructure and reform existing operations.

The bill text was renumbered from HB 361.1 to HB 361.2 and updated with new legislative session identifiers.

Added a new section establishing professional stipends for highly qualified teachers serving English learners.

Increased state funding for teacher stipends, adding a matching component where the state pays $200 plus $1 for every $1 contributed by the district (up to $350) for the $500 stipend, and $400 plus $2 for every $1 contributed (up to $800) for the $1,000 stipend.

Updated the appropriation section to allocate $5 million for English learner programs and $25,000 for teacher stipends for fiscal years 2026 and 2027.

Added a requirement for the secretary of state to send a copy of the act to each federally recognized tribal government in Montana.

Changed the bill title from LC 1220 to HB 361 and updated the list of sponsors.