Extend the grow your own grant program

Postsecondary institutions are now eligible to receive grants to develop their own teacher preparation programs.

A new scholarship program was created for students who earned at least 6 postsecondary credits in education while in high school.

Grants received by students can be converted into loans if they do not obtain a teaching license in a shortage area within 5 years or do not teach in a shortage area for 3 years within 10 years of receiving the grant.

The termination date for the Grow Your Own Grant Program was extended from June 30, 2027, to June 30, 2029.

The program now explicitly encourages collaboration between small school districts and postsecondary institutions to create career pathways for teachers.

Added a requirement to report the number of former grant participants who hold a Montana teacher certificate.

Added a requirement to report the number of former participants currently teaching in the district where they participated in the grant program.

Extended the termination date of Section 6 from June 30, 2027, to June 30, 2029.

Added a new appropriation of $500,000 from the general fund to support the program.

The annual report to the education committee must now include the number of current participants, former participants holding certificates, and former participants currently teaching in their original district.

The termination date for the prior enabling legislation was extended from June 30, 2027, to June 30, 2029.

The bill's version number was updated from HB 499.1 to HB0499.2, and header formatting was adjusted.

The funding section structure was reorganized, but the $500,000 appropriation from the general fund for the 2025-2027 biennium remains unchanged.

Added eligibility for postsecondary institutions to receive grants under the Grow Your Own program.

Extended the termination date of the temporary program from June 30, 2027, to June 30, 2029.

Corrected a grammatical error in the loan conversion clause by removing redundant phrasing.

Fixed a typo in the definition of 'quality educator shortage' by removing a repeated word.