Increase access to early literacy targeted intervention programs

This bill expands access to early literacy intervention programs by allowing school districts to count students in these programs toward their enrollment numbers, which determines state funding. It establishes a temporary grant program to help districts create or expand classroom-based early literacy initiatives and clarifies how students in programs with fewer than 180 instructional hours can be included in funding calculations if they demonstrate proficiency in covered content. The legislation also updates how enrollment is calculated for students participating in jumpstart programs and provides specific rules for counting kindergarten enrollment during transitions to full-time programs. These changes directly affect school districts in Montana and aim to increase resources available for early reading support without altering the core structure of existing education laws.