Education

signed · Montana · Senate May 13, 2025

SB 182: Generally revise MT Indian language preservation program

SB 182 revises the Montana Indian language preservation program to strengthen the state's commitment to preserving American Indian cultural integrity and languages. The bill provides greater flexibility for Montana tribes to partner with various educational entities, including public, nonpublic, and tribal schools, and postsecondary institutions. It encourages integrating program efforts with school district immersion programs and emphasizes collaborative professional development and the use of existing tribal language materials. The Office of Public Instruction administers the program, distributing funds equally to participating tribal governments who submit applications detailing their language preservation strategies.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill integrates language preservation with school curricula and partnerships, enhancing educational access and cultural curriculum in K-12 and higher ed through tribal-school collaborations.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Montana · House May 13, 2025

HB 567: Revise education laws related to multidistrict agreements

HB 567 revises education laws to increase flexibility for school districts to enter into "multidistrict agreements" for jointly funding and operating programs and services. These agreements allow two or more districts to share resources, staff, and services, and can now include private entities. Beginning in 2027, the bill offers a 50% increase in the total quality educator payment to school districts that establish comprehensive countywide multidistrict agreements encompassing all districts in a county. The aim is to enhance efficiency and resource sharing among districts across various functions like administration, instruction, and special education, without increasing local taxes.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill increases state funding via 50% educator payment boost for districts with countywide agreements, directly advancing school finance within state budget allocations.92% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill provides 50% increased funding for districts with countywide agreements, enhancing resource sharing and educator support through expanded multidistrict collaboration.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Montana · House May 13, 2025

HB 744: Authorize speech-language pathology aides and audiology aides

HB 744 authorizes the use of speech-language pathology aides and audiology aides in the state. These aides are not required to be licensed, but they must work under the supervision of a licensed speech-language pathologist or audiologist for a minimum of 20% of their time. The bill specifies that aides cannot perform work requiring independent professional judgment. It also grants the board the authority to establish the qualifications and scope of work for these aide roles through rules.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationAuthorizes non-licensed aides under supervision to expand access to speech-language services in schools, enhancing educational support without restricting services.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Montana · House May 13, 2025

HB 252: Create the student and teacher advancement for results and success act (STARS)

HB 252, known as the STARS Act, revises state school funding laws to support students and school staff. It enhances the school funding formula by offering incentives to increase teacher base salaries and encourage resource sharing among school districts. The bill also provides increased budget authority for districts with high housing costs and restores full funding to the Advanced Opportunities program. Additionally, it establishes a new "Future Ready" funding component for K-12 schools focused on postgraduation preparation and includes certain district clerks and staff with emergency authorizations in educator funding.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill enhances school funding formula, increases budget authority for districts, restores Advanced Opportunities funding, and creates new education-focused funding components.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationEnhances school funding formula with teacher salary incentives, restores Advanced Opportunities funding, and adds Future Ready component for K-12.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Montana · Senate May 13, 2025

SB 278: Revise education laws to support advanced opportunities

SB 278 revises education laws to enhance "advanced opportunities" for qualifying students in grades 6-12. The bill establishes and defines "Advanced Opportunity Facilitators" to coordinate learning opportunities between school districts, students, families, and external organizations. School districts employing these facilitators can use a portion of their existing Advanced Opportunity Aid to pay them and receive additional Quality Educator Payments for these positions. This aims to support individualized pathways for career and postsecondary educational success for students.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationEstablishes Advanced Opportunity Facilitators, uses existing aid + adds payments to expand access for grades 6-12, directly enhancing educational opportunities.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Montana · House May 8, 2025

HB 553: Generally revise military higher education act

HB 553, titled "Generally revise military higher education act," updates laws related to higher education for military members. It requires faculty at educational institutions to provide eligible students with a make-up opportunity for coursework, assignments, exams, or finals missed due to inactive duty training or annual training. Faculty must give at least 15 business days for students to complete this make-up work, consistent with accreditation requirements. The bill also defines "inactive duty training" and "annual training" to support these provisions, affecting members of the U.S. armed forces reserve components or the Montana national guard enrolled in higher education.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationEnsures military students can complete missed coursework via make-up opportunities, enhancing educational access for this group within higher education.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Montana · Senate May 8, 2025

SB 486: Revise equal opportunity education savings account funding

SB 486 revises the funding mechanism for the Montana Special Needs Equal Opportunity Education Savings Account program. Currently, resident school districts are required to remit a portion of their state education aid to the Office of Public Instruction (OPI) for students participating in the program. This bill allows a school district to elect to have the OPI pay this remittance amount in the first year a student participates in the program within that district. If this option is chosen, the OPI will later reduce the school district's state aid payment by the initial amount, adjusted for inflation, once the student is no longer participating in the program in that district.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill revises funding mechanism to facilitate participation in special needs education savings accounts, expanding access for students with disabilities within school finance framework.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Montana · House May 8, 2025

HB 359: Generally revise TRS laws on when retired teachers can return to work after retirement

HB 359 revises the Teachers' Retirement System (TRS) laws concerning retired teachers returning to work. It temporarily reduces the required break-in-service period for retired teachers from 150 to 120 days if they retired on or after January 1, 2024. The bill also creates an exception, allowing retired teachers to work for up to 45 days during this break-in-service period specifically to mentor new teachers. These provisions, which also extend existing temporary rules, are effective until June 30, 2029, after which the previous requirements will apply.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill facilitates retired teachers mentoring new educators by reducing break-in-service period, supporting teacher development and retention in schools.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Montana · House May 8, 2025

HB 573: Revise transformational learning laws to create a phase II grant program

HB 573 revises laws related to "transformational learning" in Montana's public schools. The bill moves up the termination of the existing transformational learning grant program by one year and establishes a new Transformational Learning Phase II Grant Program. This new program offers incentives and flexibilities for school districts to implement personalized, proficiency-based learning systems. Districts must apply with strategic plans and proficiency definitions, with the Superintendent of Public Instruction and the Board of Public Education overseeing the program's administration and qualification process, which includes a lottery system if funds are limited.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill establishes a new Phase II grant program with incentives for personalized, proficiency-based learning systems in K-12 schools, advancing educational innovation through funding and strategic planning requirements.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Montana · House May 8, 2025

HB 349: Revise TRS laws related to reemployment

HB 349 establishes a temporary program allowing certain retired members of the Teachers' Retirement System (TRS) to return to full-time work for the Superintendent of Public Instruction without losing their retirement benefits. To be eligible, retired teachers must have been receiving benefits for at least two months, have 27 or more years of service, and the Superintendent must certify an inability to find a non-retired qualified applicant for the position. These reemployed retirees can work for a maximum of five years and are exempt from standard earnings limits for retirees. The Superintendent of Public Instruction, as the employer, is required to make contributions to the TRS for these individuals. This act is effective immediately and terminates on June 30, 2031.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationEnables experienced retired teachers to return to K-12 roles without losing benefits, supporting educator retention and school staffing needs.85% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentAllows eligible retired teachers to return to full-time work without losing retirement benefits, expanding access to employment while preserving worker benefits.75% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education